Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Team Accomplishments

To continue on with the football theme, today's focus is the power of teamwork. I've mentioned before that the acronym of TEAM is Together Everyone Achieves More. It's true that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The collective cooperation of a group working together can achieve so much more than individuals.

The New England Patriots are a timely example. This is their fourth trip to the Super Bowl in the last seven years. They are clearly the dominant team of the decade, and maybe for the ages. The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared as many times, but in six years from 1975-1980. San Francisco 49ers also appeared four times, but in nine years from 1982-1990. To achieve the ultimate goal in football that many times takes an alignment of great players, great coaching, a common belief, and a team focus to consistently execute successfully the thousand plus plays that make up the season. Everyone must do their job for the goal to be achieved.

Bill Belichick, the coach of the Patriots, constantly instills with his team the message of "do your job". The Patriots are on the verge of completing the first 19-0 undefeated season as a result. Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins completed a 17-0 perfect season due to a 14 game regular season schedule. Belichick's teamwork philosophy has had repeated successes. Only 20 players of this year's roster of 53 have previous Super Bowl experience. Even Randy Moss, one of the best wide receivers, has fit into Belichick's team concept. He has always been a team distraction with other teams he's played on because of his attitude, work ethic, and massive ego.

The point applicable to us is that our goals in life must have the same components. No matter how gifted you might be, how driven you are, how much wealth you have; you must have others cooperate in achieving your ultimate goals. That could be a spouse, a family, an investment team, a company, a support group, or even a combination of all of the above.

So if you begin with the end in mind, the ideal result you want to achieve in life, you must always look for people that are willing to cooperate with your vision and the skills to advance the goals. The more they benefit along with you, the more they will be willing to contribute toward the goals.

There is another example in the book of Nehemiah. They were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, but were fearful that they would be attacked while the rebuilding took place. How could they restore the wall for protection?

So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.

So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. Nehemiah 4:6,15-17,21 (NASB)


If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@panama-vo.com

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