If you spend any amount of time around me at all you will soon discover that among other things….I am a sports fanatic. Yep it’s true. My heart belongs to the Seattle Seahawks although I’m also a NY Jets fan. Brett Favre is a fav but back in the day it was Marcus Allen & the Raiders …..hard to keep up with what city they were in then. I bleed purple for the Washington Huskies, ESPECIALLY football, and come spring I have Seattle Mariners fever. You might find me on occasion at a Portland Trailblazer game but really I like any good competition and can usually enjoy most any sporting event. It’s really dangerous when you get me together with OTHER sports fanatics. I can recall one eve this past November spent with a good friend of mine, an Oregon Duck football fan, watching the Ducks play to go to the Rose Bowl, while at the same time channel flipping between that and the Jets game. Was the BEST!
Growing up in a small town in Western Washington, sports played a big part in my life as a participant AND a spectator. It really wasn’t until I was an adult, that I realized that not everyone’s life revolved around the sports seasons. Going to the “ball game” was just what you did. You played or you watched and cheered. The whole town pulled together to root our teams on… still do to this day.
My elementary age son plays basketball now so I have recently found myself spending a LOT of time in a gym again. It was during one recent weekend tournament that I had an experience I’d like to share.
Half time one of the games, I happened to look around and a banner hanging on the wall caught my eye. On this no frills banner read: Together Everyone Achieves More. This really packed a powerful punch with me and taking my attention away for a spell I really took in just what that meant.
The Team (Together Everyone Achieves More) concept really is a powerful one. When individuals work together for the good of all …..everyone does achieve more.
Think about this for a moment in terms of the basketball team on the court. You have a group of people who each practice basic fundamentals to develop specific skills which leads to becoming better at basketball. The better the group of players, the more successful the team. Each team member inspires one another to become better. Great cycle huh? It was almost as if in an instant I understood what attracted me to playing and watching sports for so many years.
I quickly realized that this really isn’t limited to sports teams at all, but ANY organization of people across many environments and situations. The list is endless but here are just a few areas I can briefly point out in my own life I’m sure you will have thoughts of areas in your life as well.
Take my family, we are all individuals who come together with the goal of loving each other unconditionally and provide a nurturing safe place for each of us to belong, and encourage each other to become more. In my nursing role, I work in an environment where each individual brings unique skills in various areas of expertise and we come together to provide safe quality effective care to our patients. As far as my business, many like minded people work together to create a positive culture where we work together pushing each other up to reach a common goal. I also belong to a small group of fellow healthcare workers that participate in a healthy living team. We all keep each other on track to help reach/maintain our fitness goals. Some of us have been at it together for a couple years or more. We’re a loosy goosey bunch but its both effective AND fun!
In each of these examples the strength of each individual makes the whole stronger. When the whole works together toward a common goal then great things can happen. What areas in your life do you have the Team concept working?
The following definition by Andrew Carnegie pretty much sums it up: Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows people to attain uncommon results.
Just like the basketball team on the court working together using their individual skills and strengths to score and ultimately win, there are important benefits of teamwork in every aspect of our lives.
Together Everyone Achieves More!
About KaraGrabenhorst
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Great post Kara, you share a lot of value.. and I must admit something to you; I am a sports fan too haha! Let’s keep in touch!
Your friend,
Yannick
Yannick van den Bos´s last blog ..Guess Who is Back From Sevilla
I love the teamwork concept! Together Everyone Achieves More! Thank you for the great post! BTW, we’re huge New York Yankee fans!!
Kellie Hosaka´s last blog ..ARE YOU A WILLING TO BECOME A SPIRITUAL ENTREPRENEUR?
Kara, what a wonderful article! Yes, TEAM is a very powerful word as well as an acronym. Thank you for sharing with us.
Venus
What a great post Kara! and you know, TEAM works for our Tribe concept – Together Everyone Achieves More – so true. We practice that at my office also. Thanks for sharing – everyone needs to adopt the TEAM concept!
Jan Hil´s last blog ..Look Who’s Talking…..
Hey Kara! Great post!
Working as a team is definitely crucial in sports. Not only is it important to the team’s success, but it is so much more fun when everyone is working together towards a common goal. I know I was on some teams growing up where there were some people who were only focused on being the star of the team. Those people can really ruin it for everyone.
Thanks for reminding us that these Team concepts apply to almost every aspect of life, especially business. I know working with the tribe has helped me tremendously in my business. We can all accomplish so much more when we are all working toward a common goal while helping each other to be successful. And just like with sports, it makes it a lot more fun!
Melissa Wright´s last blog ..You’ve Been Laid Off…Now What?
I love the acronym for Team! And you can see it at work in many diff’t environments…where people are supporting each other and bringing their unique talents to the table to contribute to the growth n success of all. Thanks for sharing
Jennifer Hart´s last blog ..This Time… You’re Gonna Hear All About My MLM Co!
Kara I am also a HUGE Sports nut! I played football, baseball, and ran track in High School and loved the team elements of them all.
Especially Football.
It was like all-out war on the field, you had your comrades, and your commander issuing orders. I loved the strategic aspect of it all, especially when you know that there is NO WAY you could compete unless everyone did their job the best they could. No Offensive Lineman blocking meant that the Quarterback is gonna be on his butt all day. If the Linebackers don’t honor the run by filling the gaps, then the opponent’s runners are going to shred the defensive unit.
I have always loved how well the sports world translated into business and family concepts — everyone do their part and everyone is better for it!
The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts!
Cheers,
Clay
Clay Eudaly´s last blog ..$3.1 Million For 30 Seconds?! Man Its Good To Be An Internet Marketer
Great post Kara,
I love the acronym for TEAM I am also from a nursing background and work with a great bunch of people we affectionately call ourselves the ‘A’ team haha! I always say we work as a team, as we value and utilise everyone’s individual strengths, and support each other where needed.
Thanks for sharing
Denise Gray
There is so much power in a strong team.
#tribetuesday!!!
Jodi Lee´s last blog ..Timely Post for SMART goals
That is such a great time in a little boys life. I have a 2 yr old and can’t wait to teach him about Team sports and this very important concept. I myself remember our grade school Basketball coach teaching us that our roles on the Team we’re very important and that without this we would fail because There is no I in Team!
#TribeTuesday!
Kara,
What a great post expressing how important teamwork is in all aspects of our lives. Nothing wrong with being a sports fan!
Thanks for sharing with us,
Val
Val Wilcox´s last blog ..Meet Malin Berdette, World Traveler Extraordinaire
Kara,
I love that acronym!!! Team efforts also require a team focus/mindset, meaning everyone understands his/her role is uniquely important, while also recognizing the equal importance of other team member’s roles. It is great to have a project come together and everyone doing their part to make the whole thing work! I forget who is famous for this line, but I am reminded of it here…”I love it when a plan comes together.” Plans come together because teams work together to achieve them. Thanks for sharing!
BTW – Go Saints!
Krista
Krista Abbott´s last blog ..Get Inspired: Pimp Your Browswer with FireFox 3.6 Personas
Love this acronym for TEAM. I am so excited to be part of your tribe.Looking forward to it.Great post!
Beverly Monical´s last blog ..Do You Have Questions About Health and Wellness?
I absolutely LOVE that phrase that you saw on the banner!
*Together Everyone Achieves More* – it is SO true!
In the network marketing industry, no one is expected to go at it on their own…it requires teamwork and support from your partners and mentors.
Thanks so much for posting this, Kara!
Heather
Heather Taskovics´s last blog ..Are You Ready To Live Life Loud? – Living Your Passion And Fulfilling Your Dreams
Hi Kara,
Boy do I connect with your love of and passion for sports! I love football, too, and really enjoyed watching the Jets this last season go as far as they did. How great to discover you share this “fanaticism” like I do.
My son plays Little League and it is so much fun to go to his games and see the boys developing the skills that make a team so powerful. I have always loved the message of “Together Everyone Achieves More” and see it working in all sorts of places, not just at work. Our Tribe is a team, and now that we have all connected, we are able to achieve more than we ever could on our own!
Mary Lou
Mary Lou Kayser´s last blog ..ANOTHER Sneaky Way to Burn Extra Calories When Working in Front of Your Computer
Hi Kara
Thanks for the reminder the power of the “TEAM” brings amazing synergy with incredible results !!
Thanks again
Kaye
Kaye Flack´s last blog ..8 Strategies to Develop your Leadership Success