Lean Into Your Weakness

Here’s a little Star Wars joke to kick things off:

Q: How does Darth Vader know what Luke Skywalker is getting for Christmas?

A: Because he feels his presents.

Ah, the old ones are the  . . . well, old ones.

But it makes me laugh, and brings me nicely to the topic for today - James Earl Jones, the iconic voice behind Darth Vader, who sadly passed away recently. 

For many of us, Jones’ deep, resonant voice will forever be synonymous with cinema giants like Vader and the Lion King’s wise and regal Mufasa. 

But did you know that the man whose voice shook galaxies struggled with a debilitating stutter as a child? In fact, between the ages of 5 and 15, he barely spoke at all.

I’m sure the irony isn’t lost on you - and wasn’t on him either - that the very thing which could have silenced him ended up defining his career. 

Jones’ story is a testament to embracing what makes us unique, even when it feels like a weakness.

I Just Can’t Wait To Be King

For James Earl Jones, his voice was both his burden and his gift. As a child, his stutter was so severe that he chose silence rather than risk humiliation. 

But instead of letting that silence define him, Jones leaned into the vulnerability, gradually working through his stammer with the help of a teacher. 

That voice, once a source of shame, would become his most powerful asset.

It’s hard to imagine that the voice behind one of the most feared villains in cinematic history, Darth Vader, and Mufasa, was once silenced by a childhood speech impediment. 

Jones could have easily hidden from his challenges, but instead, he worked at it tirelessly and eventually turned his perceived weakness into a superpower.

I Heard The News Today

Jones didn’t just stop at movies. His powerful, authoritative tone became the voice of news, too. In 1993, CNN chose James Earl Jones to be the voice of their station’s iconic slogan: “This is CNN”. 

His commanding delivery of those three simple words became as recognisable as the news network itself. Whether it was the latest breaking news or a calm report on world events, hearing Jones’ voice brought an instant sense of gravity and credibility to CNN broadcasts.

Again, his voice—once a source of insecurity—became a defining characteristic, adding weight not just to fictional worlds, but to real-world reporting.

I’m The Voice Try And Understand It

Jones didn't just overcome his stutter; he transformed his voice into a tool of immense authority.

His story highlights an important truth: the qualities we often view as obstacles can actually become our greatest strengths when we embrace them fully. 

Sometimes, we work so hard to “fix” what we think is wrong with us, but in reality, those so-called flaws might just be what sets us apart.

James Earl Jones’ journey is a powerful reminder that embracing what makes you different - whether it’s a speech impediment, a quirk, or something else entirely - can lead to extraordinary outcomes. After all, what if he’d never leaned into that deep, powerful voice of his?

Embrace Your Inner Voice

We all have something about ourselves that we’re tempted to hide, whether it’s a fear, a vulnerability, or an aspect of our personality we don’t quite understand. But what if, like James Earl Jones, that very thing is the key to unlocking something incredible?

Jones’ voice, once his biggest insecurity, became his legacy. So if you’re holding back something about yourself because you think it’s a flaw, take a moment to reconsider. What you view as a weakness might just be your biggest strength waiting to be unleashed.

So this week’s top tip is to take a deep breath, lean into who you are, and see where it takes you. You might just surprise yourself - and the world around you.