Star Wars Be More Vader Read online

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  BE MORE VADER Written by Christian Blauvelt

  Contents Starting out ............................................................. 4 Perfect your interview technique ............................... 6 Succeed as an intern ................................................. 8 Don’t feel pressured by others’ expectations ........... 10 Find a mentor ............................................................. 12 Shoot for the stars ..................................................... 14 Getting established .......................................... 16 Master the power of self-confidence ........................ 18 Control the conversation .......................................... 20 Refine your negotiation skills .................................. 22 Don’t bring problems; bring solutions ..................... 24 Present with confidence ........................................... 26 Seeking promotion ........................................... 28 Manage changing circumstances ........................... 30 Assess your competition .......................................... 32 Insist on proper recognition ..................................... 34 Make your requests with conviction......................... 36 Devise a solid career plan and stick to it ............... 38 Working with colleagues ................................ 40 Never tolerate insubordination ................................ 42 Lead by example...................................................... 44 Hire external contractors if necessary .................... 46 Make your expectations clear ................................. 48 Manage the talents of others ................................... 50 Becoming a leader ........................................... 52 Accept a leadership position ................................... 54 Give credit where credit is due ................................. 56 Provide decisive and forthright feedback .............. 58 Watch your back ....................................................... 60 Terminate contracts with immediate effect ............. 62 2

  Introduction The dark path to success You might be an apprentice, but you can master your own career—you just need drive, ambition, and connections. Climbing the corporate ladder is not that different from rising through the ranks of the Empire. Early mentoring will help you make your mark, whether it’s seizing the initiative on a major project or hunting down rebellious Jedi. Developing a reputation as a ruthlessly efficient problem solver will fuel your progress, until you replace your mentor and assume the mantle of leadership. Be More Vader provides essential advice to help you succeed at work. It will enable you to follow in the footsteps of the Dark Lord of the Sith— even if you don’t possess the power of the dark side.

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  STARTING OUT Success in the workplace has more to do with attitude than background. It shouldn’t matter if your father is a Jedi or if you grew up on a backwater planet. Success ultimately depends on your ambition, resolve, and killer business instincts. Master these skills at the outset of your career and you won’t be an apprentice for long.

  “You were not summoned here to grovel, Director Krennic.” Darth Vader 6

  Starting out

  Perfect your interview technique Stand out from the crowd in any interview by showing some backbone. Your busy interviewer probably has an inbox full of emails to which they must reply, budgets that need to be signed off, and rebellions to crush. Don’t waste their valuable time by coming across as a weak-minded applicant or another corporate clone. Go in strong and fully prepared, and within 15 minutes even the most intimidating figure will be keen to hire you.

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  “My worthy apprentice... Where there was conflict, I now sense resolve. Where there was weakness, strength. Complete your training, and fulfill your destiny.” Supreme Leader Snoke 8

  Starting out

  Succeed as an intern You can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. So how do you get your boot in the blastdoor? Secure an internship by writing a sharp cover letter, playing up your eminent connections (a Sith Lord in your family tree can’t hurt), or Force-fully rejecting your Jedi mentor. Once you’ve landed the job, arrive early, volunteer to answer phones and make photocopies, and show your total commitment by eliminating someone important to you.

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  “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be.” Kylo Ren 10

  Starting out

  Don’t feel pressured by others’ expectations Everyone struggles at the start of their career, especially if they’re under pressure to join the family business. Whether your grandfather was a Sith Lord, your mother helped “save the galaxy” with her strident activism, or your father was a scruffy-looking nerf herder who couldn’t hold down a proper job, don’t be afraid to forge your own path. It’s fine to sever ties completely, even if that feels drastic.

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  “And you, young Skywalker. We shall watch your career with great interest.” Chancellor Palpatine 12

  Starting out

  Find a mentor No matter how high your midi-chlorian count, you’ll never get from entry level to Emperor on your own. You’ll need guidance from someone who recognizes your talents and knows how to put you on the path to success. Networking is key: reach out via email or hologram to someone whose career you want. Then flatter them by asking advice on improving your prospects, be it making speeches, negotiating trade disputes, or firing lightning bolts from your fingertips.

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  “I am more powerful than the Chancellor... I can overthrow him. And... together you and I can rule the galaxy.” Anakin Skywalker 14

  Starting out

  Shoot for the stars Dream big! You’re at the start of your brilliant career and the whole galaxy is literally yours for the taking. Be suspicious of anyone attempting to hold you back, even if they are your one true love. Don’t let them sidetrack you with lectures on right and wrong, pester you about family obligations, or criticize your ruthless streak. People who claim you have “changed” are simply intimidated by your meteoric rise to greatness.

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  GETTING ESTABLISHED You’ve seized your early opportunities; now build that strong first impression into a formidable reputation. Organize and take control of meetings, inspiring your colleagues with your charisma, self-assurance, and take-no-prisoners approach. Discover how to command your peers’ respect, but just know that the Death Star wasn’t built in a day.

  “The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” Darth Vader 18

  Getting established

  Master the power of self-confidence Always be confident in your abilities. Your colleagues may possess better people skills, be proficient in the latest business software, or have even developed a moon-sized space station packed with planet- destroying weaponry. But the Force is strong with you, and you should never be afraid to demonstrate it. Underscore your status and presence with some subtle Sith mind games. Stand during a meeting while others sit—it’s the ultimate power play.

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  “This bickering is pointless.” Grand Moff Tarkin 20

  Getting established

  Control the conversation Keep your colleagues on a tight leash in meetings by silencing anyone who is derailing the conversation with small talk or pettiness. Wasting time is wasting money, so show them you mean business. Some colleagues, whether at the office or on your Death Star, may fuss over protocol or fight over turf—remind them that they are here to serve the Emperor. Assert your priorities with one swift stroke—how else will you deliver the Death Star on schedule and under budget?

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  “I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.” Darth Vader to Lando Calrissian 22

  Getting established

  Refine your negotiation
skills You don’t need to rely on Jedi mind tricks to become a dealmaker extraordinaire: focus your discussions on what both parties will gain in any negotiation. You may be coercing a local politician to carbon- freeze their best friend, but remind them how they’ll win their city’s autonomy in return. If they moan about the deal getting progressively worse as you increase your demands, bring in the muscle: stormtroopers are the best closers.

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  “My lord, is that... legal?” Nute Gunray “I will make it legal.” Darth Sidious 24

  Getting established

  Don’t bring problems; bring solutions No one likes a negative Neimoidian. There’s nothing worse for starship morale than an individual who constantly focuses on problems or worst-case scenarios, and who cites legal niceties at every opportunity. Stay true to your vision and look for creative solutions to potential problems— before they arise. Assume a double identity and plunge the entire galaxy into a devastating civil war if you have to, but get the job done.

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  “All remaining systems will bow to the First Order!” General Armitage Hux 26

  Getting established

  Present with confidence Public speaking can be daunting, even for people in high-ranking positions. However, by having courage in your convictions and faith in your work, you will gain the confidence to address legions of your loyal subordinates. You can be guaranteed to make a strong impression by following these top tips: have a clear message, decorate the stage with a bold insignia, and project your voice. Make sure even the stormtroopers at the back can hear you!

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  SEEKING PROMOTION Acknowledge and, more importantly, promote your achievements. If you’re managing a heavy workload, training new staff, and keeping complex starship construction projects on schedule, make sure that your efforts are suitably recognized and rewarded. Learn how to ask for a promotion and ensure your demands are met.

  “We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless.” Palpatine 30

  Seeking promotion

  Manage changing circumstances At some stage in your career, you will face change at your workplace. It could mean staging a hostile takeover of a rival trade federation and toppling their leadership. Or it could mean a crucial rebrand when your Republic suddenly becomes the first Galactic Empire. Worse still, a management shakeup could mean redundancies, especially for your mystical, hooded colleagues. Find the opportunity in change and execute on it—or be executed from your current role.

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  “It’s all Obi-Wan’s fault! He’s jealous! He’s holding me back!” Anakin Skywalker 32

  Seeking promotion

  Assess your competition Rivalries can be healthy. They can make you stronger, sharper, and fiercer. The Sith say that even within a defined teaching relationship, the master should embody power while the apprentice craves it. However, the moment that rivalry starts holding you back, you need to eradicate it—show no mercy, even if you once considered your rival a brother. Don’t let sentiment undermine your progress— a career that stops growing is a dead career.

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  “I’ve delivered the weapon the Emperor requested. I deserve an audience to make certain he understands its remarkable... potential.” Director Krennic 34

  Seeking promotion

  Insist on proper recognition How you communicate your achievement is as vital as the achievement itself. Whether it’s the impact of your brand on social media or the impact of your Death Star’s superlaser on a planetary crust, your success will count for nothing unless your CEO or Emperor fully understands its worth. Make them understand it —then make them grasp your worth by demanding a higher position, with an appropriate pay rise. Advancement is never given; it is taken.

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  “The Republic will agree to any demands we make.” Count Dooku 36

  Seeking promotion

  Make your requests with conviction It is imperative to show steely resolve during negotiations. Your business partners have staked their time, capital, and battle droids on your schemes, and they demand a commensurate return on their investment. These commercial allies will expect you to use their resources to make a lasting impression on the opposition. So never back down, even if that means feeding enemy negotiators to hungry beasts and starting a galactic war.

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  “Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.” Darth Sidious 38

  Seeking promotion

  Devise a solid career plan and stick to it Your focus on progression needs to be as sharp and deadly as a lightsaber. In the short term, getting ahead could mean maximizing profits or recruiting a new apprentice. In the long term, it could mean taking 20 years to build a mighty battle station to help you manage an unruly galaxy through fear alone. You can’t take your eye off the ball, especially if that ball is the Death Star—a monumental statement like that will ensure your abiding legacy.

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  WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES You’re powerful with the Force, but even you can’t do everything alone. You’ll never build a new organization out of the ashes of a fallen Empire unless you instill new purpose in its former staffers and recruit new, highly motivated employees. Yes, this may mean getting inside their heads or bridging their minds, but that’s a small price to pay for absolute power.

  “You’re a bug in the system.” Captain Phasma 42

  Working with colleagues

  Never tolerate insubordination Some colleagues are determined to make you look bad. You may have taken them from their family when they were a child, given them a staff number instead of a name, and trained them only in combat—yet they’re still ungrateful. If your co-worker is simply unmotivated, alert your manager or insist they submit their blaster for inspection. If they’re outright rebellious, bring a righteous chrome fist down upon them.

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  “I’ll take them myself! Cover me!” Darth Vader 44

  Working with colleagues

  Lead by example Sometimes, if you want something done right, you just have to do it yourself. Even the best TIE fighter pilot in the fleet could learn a maneuver or two from flying in attack formation with you. When you inevitably blast those rebel scum from the sky, remember to take all the credit for yourself. And if, in a one-in-a- million chance they slip away from you, then it’s vital to have other people nearby to blame. Win-win.

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  “You are free to use any methods necessary...” Darth Vader 46

  Working with colleagues

  Hire external contractors if necessary There are times when your own team can’t get the job done, so you might have to call in outside experts. External consultants could advise on organizational restructuring, while bounty hunters could use outside- the-box methods to track down a rebel ship. Your employees might sneer at these hired hands, but inhouse staff are less likely to look beyond established practices to find your quarry amidst floating garbage. Just warn the contractors not to disintegrate your prisoners.

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  “Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want that ship, not excuses.” Darth Vader to Admiral Piett 48

  Working with colleagues

  Make your expectations clear It’s only natural to have high standards when you’re a Force-sensitive, exceptionally powerful individual identified as the “Chosen One” in a galaxy teeming with billions of beings. Those around you will invariably struggle with matters that seem ludicrously simple to you. Be patient—up to a point—but make sure your instructions are crystal clear; don’t give anyone a second opportunity to disappoint you.

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  “A cur’s weakness, properly manipulated, can be a sharp tool.” Supreme Leader Snoke 50

  Working with colleagues

  Manage the talents of others Deploy staff in ways that align their duties with their talents. Training and performance evaluation might come naturally to a chrome-armored operative who enjoys intimidating subordinates. Another underling’s public speaking skills could inspire your assembled legions. And if a staff
member displays raw, untamed power, set him loose on your enemies. While your employees benefit from professional development, you’ll profit from realizing their full potential.

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  BECOMING A LEADER The qualities that define great leaders can vary hugely depending on whether they are in charge of a start-up enterprise or a Star Destroyer. However, one attribute is vital: they must project an aura of authority and stability. Sow seeds of fear to motivate your team in the short term, if necessary, but for long-term leadership you must command their admiration and loyalty.

  “When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master.” Darth Vader to Obi-Wan Kenobi 54

  Becoming a leader

  Accept a leadership position Some individuals train for years to be a leader, while others become one overnight. If an opportunity arises, be prepared to seize it, whether it has been planned or appears from out of the blue. You may suddenly be called on to manage your team’s response to a demanding client or lead a search party for stolen battle station plans. How you handle pressure during a crisis will determine whether you are true leadership material.