If you are a oldies music fan, you will remember the Beatles. Certainly they demonstrate this concept, as even as talented they were as individuals they did not garner the respect or attention that they did as a group. If you're a baseball fan - how about those '67 Red Sox - from last to first and a pennant! A Dream Team! They had some great individualise on that team, but none greater than the team! If you're into racing, by all accounts an "individual" sport, you still need the other racers in order to excel - drafting, bumping, etc.
So it is with the Tea Party movement. Although there are a multitude of "grassroots tea party organizations" out there, the whole is greater than any of those individual "units". Here's a story you may like. It's about the "whole", it's about teamwork. It's about each "individual" and each "unit" knowing it's responsibility to the "whole", and accepting and executing those responsibilities for the greater good of the whole.
We need to be careful not to allow our success during this election to "go to our heads" and give us a false impression of our own value. We are all only as good as the whole, and the whole is better than any one of us! So don't lose sight of the goal! I doubt it will happen, but you never know.
While this story is geared towards the business community, one can easily see how it applies to the Tea Party movement.
Pulling Together by John J Murphy
Cooperation...Nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.
Consistent application of the 10 rules of high performance teamwork ultimately generates trust, respect, unity and power within any team. Conversely, consistent violation of any one rule destroys this bond. While the author of the following is unknown, "Lessons From the Geese" is a powerful illustration from nature of the rules of high performance teamwork. As you read about the natural unity that exists among this species remember - this same unity can exist in your organization!
As geese flap their wings, they create an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if any bird were to fly alone.
If we share a common direction and a sense of community, we can get where we are going more quickly and easily because we are traveling on the thrust of one another!
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go, and we will be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.
If we take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership as with the geese, we become interdependent with one another.
The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. If we “honk,” we need to make sure it is positive and encouraging. When a goose gets sick or wounded or is shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, with another formation or catch up with the flock.
If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong. Let us all try to fly in formation and remember to drop back to help those who might need it! BEHOLD THE POWER OF TEAMWORK
The greatest accomplishments in life are not achieved by individuals alone, but by proactive people pulling together for a common good. Look behind every winner and you will find a great coach. Look out in front of every superstar and you will see a positive role model. Look alongside every great achiever and you will find caring people offering encouragement, support and able assistance.
Rising to this level of interdependent thinking can be challenging and difficult. Looking beyond oneself, asking for help or accepting help can feel risky. But people are not given life to simply take from one another. We are here to give. Our mission in life is to offer our gifts to benefit one another, to create mutual gain in the world. This is called teamwork, a win/win mindset stemming from a genuine commitment to the rules that allow it to happen.
Stand With God, Stand For Liberty, Prepare To Fight For Both!
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