THE ERP HERO’S JOURNEY: A STAR WARS TALE

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” – Joseph Campbel

Are You A Hero?

That’s a pretty loaded question but bear with me. This video by Mathew Winkler with TED-Ed titled, “What makes a hero?” explains that dozens upon dozens of narratives, from The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, and Moana to Prometheus and The Odyssey were all derived from the same formula: The Monomyth, also known as The Hero’s Journey.

The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey dictates the precise steps that a hero must take along their path to success.  These include a call to action, help from a mentor and/or supernatural force, some setbacks along the way, and ultimately a decisive victory.

My personal favorite example of a modern Monomyth is Star Wars (the original trilogy… please).  In this example, Luke Skywalker is the hero, Obi-Wan Kenobi is the mentor (with a little help from Yoda of course, cue the Dagoba training montage), and of course, Darth Vader is the agent of darkness.  It’s a classic retelling of The Odyssey, with lightsabers instead of swords and spaceships instead of warships.

The ERP Journey

The Hero’s Journey is similar to the ERP Journey.  Just like the hero, or Luke Skywalker, you must start by recognizing a need and crossing the threshold into actively seeking a solution for that need.  This is where ACC comes into the picture.  We love to play the role of the mentor, often aptly referred to as the wise old man or sage archetype.  We are your Obi-Wan, and we are your only hope (I couldn’t resist).

In all seriousness, it is our job, just as it was Obi-Wan’s and Yoda’s, to give you the knowledge, tools, and training you need to overcome whatever agent of darkness is hurting your company.  Whether it be inefficiency, data silos, or your asthmatic, estranged father.

In Star Wars, Obi-Wan gives Luke a lightsaber, the classic weapon of the Jedi, with which he appears to have the right tools for the job at hand.  However, when Luke gives into temptation and prematurely attempts to take on Darth Vader, he loses a hand, a mentor (RIP Obi-Wan) and ends up back at square one.  This is because he wasn’t trained properly.

On your ERP journey, we provide you with ERP software, not lightsabers (though that would be pretty cool too).  But unlike Obi-Wan, we take the time right off the bat to make sure that you and your team are taught the ways of the force.  We provide flexible, extensive training and make sure that you’ve met clear measures of mastery before sending you to take on the darkness. Even then, our Jedi ghost forms are still easily accessible to lend a helping hand by way of our talented support team.

So, to answer my original question, you are a hero.  The fact that you’ve recognized a clear problem and are actively working to correct it means that you’ve taken the first steps on your very own journey.  The question is, do you have the right knowledge and tools to reach your potential and slay the villain?

At ACC, we offer a full range of ERP services, including consulting, implementation, targeted training, and ongoing support.  We aim to build long-lasting relationships based on trust by committing to support your business goals throughout your journey.

Learn more about our lightsabers / ERP solutions.

Ready to become a padawan?  Sign up for training classes.

Learn about our Jedi ghost/support plans.