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As much as we enjoy solo achievement, the truth is that no lone individual has done anything of value. The belief that one person can do something great is a myth.

Albert Einstein – “Many times a day I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.”

Economist Lester Thurow – “…In America, halls, of fame exist for almost every conceivable activity, but nowhere do we raise monuments in praise of teamwork.”

President Lyndon Johnson – “There are no problems that we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.”

Gene Wilkes in his book Jesus on Leadership observed the power of teams has deep history within biblical times. He notes that ….

• Teams involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas, and energy than an individual.
• Teams maximize a leader’s potential and minimize their weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses are more exposed in individuals.
• Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet needs and accomplish goals.
• Teams share the victories and the blame for losses.
• Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal.
• Teams simply can out perform any individual.

So here is the million dollar question for you – Why do we stand alone? Knowing as much as we do about teams people still choose to do things by themselves. Let us consider some reasons why.

EGO – Few people are fond of admitting that they can do everything, yet that is the reality. Perhaps the question according to INJOY Team member Kerry Walls is not whether you can do everything, but how quickly you will realize that you are going to realize that can’t. Andrew Carnegie stated once that it marks a big step in your development when you realize that other people can help you do a better job than you can do alone.

INSECURITY – People who are insecure tend to surround themselves with other people who are weak decision makers. Niccolo Machiavelli stated that to test the strength of a leader is to take inventory of the strength of the individuals that surrounds the leader.

NAIVETE’ – Consultant John Ghegan says, “If I had to do it all over again, I would ask for help.” When you refuse to become a team member you tend to bite off more than you chew. They naively under estimate the difficulty of achieving big things. The end result is that your goals are never achieved. That is sad!

TEMPERAMENT – Some people are not just outgoing and it never occurs to them to think in terms of a team. They just do not think to ask for help from others. Why take a journey alone when you could ask others to join? Dr. Fromme quipped that people have been know to accomplish more working with others than against them. Charles Swindoll wrote since none of us is a whole independent, self-sufficient, super-capable, all-powerful hot shot, lets quit acting like we are. Life is lonely enough without playing that silly role.

Take a sheet of paper and write down three major goals that you are working toward achieving right now? After you have done this take a few moments and reflect on these goals –

• What approach have you been taking to achieve them?
• Are you going alone?
• Are you building a team to accomplish these goals?
• If you are not part of team, take some time to figure out WHY?

LINKS

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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!