From nowhere a blaster is pressed against his chest.
“Oonta goota, Solo.”
Han Solo is unfazed by the Rodian’s sudden appearance.
As they talk, it’s soon clear that Solo got offside with his client, Jabba the Hutt.
Now Greedo is here for the bounty.
A few more words.
A sudden explosion!
And as the smoke clears… the bounty hunter lies dead on the table.
Patrons in neighbouring seats barely raise their eyebrows.
It’s just another day in the Mos Eisley Cantina.
===
There’s been decades of controversy in the Star Wars fandom about who actually shot first.
Solo or Greedo?
And many will wonder: who cares?
Well… many internet rabbit holes care.
And… in my opinion… it matters for Han’s “ruffian made good” character arc.
So:
Did he take the bloodthirsty, shoot-first path and mow this dude down?
Well…
If you watch the later revisionist edits from the 2000s you’ll see Greedo fire a fraction of a second before Solo.
Greedo misses. Solo hits.
No longer do you see a frame or two of a stand-in Greedo dummy before an explosion fills the screen. Just some lasers firing.
Meanwhile… back in the real world of Star Wars…
After the explosion, the bounty hunter slumps forward. And there’s no sign Greedo even fired at all.
But speculation is rife.
I mean… his weapon may have been more subtle than Solo’s. So we didn’t see where the shot hit in the original.
For those wanting to clearly lay the matter to rest…
The answer came to light when a copy of an early script marked “fourth draft” was discovered. Dated March 15, 1976. One year before the movie’s release date.
In this draft the film is called “Star Wars: Saga I” instead of the release title of “Star Wars: A New Hope”.
And lol of all lols…
Luke Skywalker was given the heavy-duty name: Luke Starkiller.
I guess he lived up to that forgotten moniker when he made the Death Star go *KABLOOEY!*!
Oh yeah… the “lost” script clearly says…
Han Solo fired first.
It just goes to show… when a challenge arose he dealt with it.
Our challenges can also suddenly arise… like a Rodian pointing a blaster at our chest.
And we have to react to them as best we can at the time.
But they don’t always pop up out of the blue.
Sometimes they are just… there. Lingering.
Never quite being dealt with.
Sure, they’re on the todo list. Yet never quite rise to the top.
What’s a “hard basket” thing on your todo list that’s been there for a while?
And every day it’s nudged a little further down.
But in reality? It should be number one.
Is it:
Reaching out to a dream client? (Or reaching out to any prospective client for that matter!)
A difficult conversation with someone close?
Figuring out just how LinkedIn works?
Making progress on the book you want to write?
What’s your Greedo?
What’s the thing you need to make top of your list… and take action on?
What would Han solo do?
If it helps… visualise your problem.
It waltzes up to you saying:
“Oonta goota, {{Contact.FirstName}}.”
There’s nowhere for you to run or hide.
Your only prospects are being mown down, or…
You loosen your blaster.
Stare your Greedo straight in the eyes.
And with a cheeky smile…
Blast its living daylights out! đź’Ą
Ahh… I mean:
Take steps… get it done… and cross it off!
Have a great week!
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Chris Milham