Being one of the leaders of a relatively large company for nearly a quarter century, I experience firsthand on a daily basis the righteousness of the principle that one simply can’t make it alone. To whatever venue of life one might apply this principle, be it business, family or community, the age-old precept that none of us is as strong, powerful, productive or effective as all of us is universally applicable. Collaborative effort always trumps individual effort.
This in no way implies that having a strong sense of self-worth and confidence in your own abilities is not a vital component to success. However, as our talents grow commensurate with our victories, it becomes quite easy to succumb to the idea that we are superstars who singlehandedly are responsible for our winning in whatever game we’re playing. The simple truth is that this assumption is rarely, if ever, correct. The easiest way to prove this hypothesis is to question any hall of fame caliber quarterback on a professional football team. It could be Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees. Pick any you wish. If you ask them if they could have achieved what they have without the assistance of their respective team members they all would resoundingly answer, “no way!”
In our organization, we have superstar producers and we have average ones. We have seasoned veterans and we have rookie starters. We have managers and we have staff persons. Each performs vital functions that contribute to both our overall and individual success. Even the person who answers our phones and who initially greets our customers is integral to how easily we will succeed once that call or customer is handed off to us. Our inputters, our account and finance personnel, our trainers along with our diverse group of salespeople, all make the attainment of our desired success far easier as a result of their collaborative support than if we were forced to go it alone.
The next time we’re tempted to pat ourselves on the back for being the best at what we do, if we’re honest about it, we should remember to use only one hand to do so, saving our other hand to give a pat on the back to those who stand behind us giving us support every day. While we may be the superstars, they clear our sky of clouds so that the brightness of our star can clearly be seen by all.
I love the following story. I’ve most often seen it used in exemplifying the importance of embracing diversity, but it also speaks to me about the power and magnificence of teamwork. No matter how often I hear or read it, it serves as a welcome reminder to me that no matter how self-important I may feel, when I collaborate with others, my importance, power, and beauty increases exponentially.
Once all the colors of the world came together and instead of harmony, there was infighting and competition. All claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite.
GREEN said, “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I am the chosen color for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”
BLUE interrupted; “You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and sea. It is water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep blue sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. The sky is blue, hence, without my peace you would all be nothing.”
YELLOW chuckled; “You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”
ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet; “I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry most of the important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don’t hang around all of the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”
RED could stand it no longer, he shouted out: “I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood – life’s blood! I bring fire into the blood. I am willing to fight for a cause. I am the color of danger and bravery. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”
PURPLE rose up to his full height; he was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of the royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me, for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.”
Finally INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all of the others, but with just as much determination: “Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
So the colors went on boasting, each convinced of their superiority. The quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning. Thunder rolled and boomed, rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort. In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
“You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued, “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that when you all work together productively in peace and harmony, the beauty you create will be unmatched and what you will become to all who view you is the universal sign that no matter how treacherous the challenge or storm, there is always hope for tomorrow.
Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and true as the sky;
And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back—
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. – Rudyard Kipling
Have an AWE-full weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué