The idea for this piece began when I saw the movie Kung Fu Panda recently.

A number of my Clearing clients recommended I see this movie because I would love it. They were right! The movie contains a great deal of wisdom about Life, presented in a humorous way.

Here’s a glimpse – the movie trailer:

I loved the entire movie but there is just one part I’d like to focus on now.

In the movie Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman lends his voice to the character “Shifu,” a master of the Chinese martial art Kung Fu.

There is another character named Oogway, an old master who asks Shifu to do something very important, to which Shifu replies, “I will try.”

TRY?! At that point I was expecting Oogway to pounce on Shifu for using the word “try.”

After all, I remember the very famous line in the 1980 Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back in which Yoda says to Luke Skywalker, “No! Try not. Do. Or not do. There is no try.”

Here’s Yoda…

TRY TO PICK UP THE BOOK!

I participated in the est training in 1976, and in that seminar they did a great job of demonstrating the concept “try.”

First the est Trainer put a huge dictionary, weighing about 10 pounds, on a table in front of the seminar room. Next, a participant was asked to come up to the front of the room.

It went like this:

est Trainer: TRY to pick up the book.

Participant: OK, he says, and reaches out with both hands and picks up the book.

est Trainer: No! TRY to pick up the book!

Participant: OK, he says, and reaches out with both hands and picks up the book.

est Trainer: No! TRY to pick up the book!!

As you’ve already realized, the only way the participant could successfully follow the order to “Try to pick up the book” was to reach for it, place both hands on it and show an effort to pick it up but not actually pick it up. Trying to pick up the book meant the book stayed on the table!

So the line from Yoda goes right along with this. You either do it or you don’t.

Yoda’s line “There is no try” became wildly popular, and 28 years later the concept is still thriving. And that is why I was utterly amazed that in the Kung Fu Panda movie, when Shifu said to Oogway “I’ll try,” the wise old Master Oogway said nothing about trying or not trying.

He didn’t say, “You’ll try??! There is no try!” Oogway simply accepted Shifu’s commitment, his intention to do his best to fulfill the request. To tell you the truth, it was quite a relief!

IS THE CONVICTION THERE?

There IS a valid point to be made about use of the word “try.” Sometimes people speak in code, couching their words, and being vague or ambiguous.

People who talk in code say “I’ll try,” and what they really mean is: “I’m not really committed. There’s doubt. Maybe I’ll do it, maybe not. I’m telling you yes but I probably mean no.” In cases like that, questioning the person about the conviction behind their intention seems appropriate.

However, other people, the straight talkers, say “I’ll try,” and what they really mean is: “I intend to do it and you can count on me to do my best. I will give it my best shot. I have every faith that it will get done.” If you can feel that conviction underneath, that’s what counts.

This is not about whether it’s right or wrong to use the word try. The point is that there is no right or wrong to it at all. Ideally, you have CHOICE. The question is, does your intention back up your words?

THE STORY OF “THE REDEEM TEAM”

Case in Point:

Last night during the Olympics coverage there was an interview with Chris Paul, one of the USA basketball players.

That basketball team is known as “The Redeem Team.” Why?

Because the USA Basketball Team known as “The Dream Team” failed miserably at the 2002 Olympics and fared far below expectations at the 2004 Olympics, despite the fact that the team is always composed of the current top NBA players. The USA Olympic Basketball Team’s reputation was in shambles; hence, the 2008 USA Olympic basketball team acquired the nickname, “The Redeem Team.”

Back to the interview with Chris Paul, who said, “We’re here to try and win the Gold.” He said “try.”

But clearly he and the entire team mean business, and they intend to win! So far The Redeem Team has won 4 games, lost 0, beating their opponents by an average of 28 points.

Check out this interview with other members of The Redeem Team…

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Does using the word “try” automatically mean you’re not committed?

Post your comment and let us know what you think!

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