Teamwork...........Not Just For Sports!!!

I know we have all heard the saying........"There is no I in team."  Many times people say that, just to put someone else in check who is trying to push their agenda on everyone else.  But the TRUE meaning of, "There is no I in team," is the adage that no man or woman is an island.  None of us can make it out here on our own.  I don't care how talented, smart, beautiful, physically fit, sexy, or lovable you are.  None of us can make it out here totally alone.  If you are out here talented with no where to display your talent, then you are a princess sitting beautiful in the tower waiting for you prince.  Or a handsome prince waiting for the princess.  ( Don't want to turn my male readers off in the first round).

One thing that I find lacking in the black community IS the sense of community.  We are so busy tearing each other down or jealous of the person who has two more dollars than us that we are not living up to our full potential.  Or once we feel that we have a couple of more dollars than the next person we look down on our neighbors. 

We need to get it together and really and truly find something that is bigger than ourselves.  As many of you know I am building a production company.  I perform plays in and all around Chicago.  But here is the thing. I can't do it alone.  I have to get like minded people around me to help me.  I need people who understand that where we are................ is not a representation of where we are going, nor is it our final destination.

We as black people are mesmerized by shiny objects.  If we see someone driving a Phantom we believe man that is success and that looks good.  I want to get me one of those. Many of us do not understand that the Phantom is a symptom of success........NOT THE SUCCESS ITSELF.  We are floundering out here trying to achieve the American Dream and wonder why it eludes us.  So we over extend ourselves with cars, homes, TVs, Minks, and vacations we can't afford.  We never build anything for the next generation.

Many of you are already a part of team.  And its called "FAMILY".  You and your husband decides who is going to do what as far as the finances and the household chores.  Then you have children and you find the best way to raise them.  One child grows up and shows interest in sports so the family then finds a way to make that work into the day to day operation of this team.  Then you have a child who is into science.  Then you have to find a way to buy him or her telescopes and computer programs that will help them excel.  Now this is a team day in and day out. So we already have the concept down.

We need to now take it to the next level.  Get with some people who have ideas for business and then we all need to find how our talent is going to fit into the team and RESPECT what everyone is bringing and build something great.

One of my real good girlfriends had come over yesterday because she wanted my help starting her own blog.  She is a fantastic writer!  Now YES, I am a writer too.........but I have respect for her gift and I want to see her succeed.  Now I have been working in Corporate America for many years.  And I have gained very many skills from my time in Corporate America.   I am well versed in computer software and understand the inner workings of many different computer programs.  So when I wanted to start my own blog it was a five minute process in starting it up .  My girl does not have the same work history with computers so her blog set up...............which was nothing to me, was monumental to her.  But I thought it not robbery to help her with her dream.  You see it didn't cost me anything to share my knowledge with her.  And soon her blog will gain momentum.  I am happy about that. 

I am a great writer and a great performer, however, I'm not so great with the business side.  That is why I have a producer who is FANTASTIC at that.  We pool are talents and resources and we build.  But here is the thing, even though I write great and perform great, I am not a one woman show.  So I have to find other actors and singers and musicians, who are willing to come and utilize their talents in my production company. So we are all helping each other.  I get hard working talent to display in a whole polished and  finished product.  And they get a chance to show off their massive gifts.  We all use what we have to make one finished product and we all get a chance to glory in the success together.

More of us in the black community........especially during these hard economic times.........need to really and truly adopt the team mentality.  That is the only thing that will keep us competitive in this global economy.  And here is the thing.  Many times Corporate America does not take us serious when we are small and starting out.  Our small size and small resources are our power.  Let's use it to our advantage.  They laugh at us the way Goliath laughed at David.  But we all know how that story ended.  Get together with like minded people.  Put a plan together and begin right where you are to get your piece of the pie.  Understand that it costs you nothing to try! But it pays well when you succeed. 

When you are part of a team, make way for other people's expertise.  When someone knows how to do something as well or even better than you...........take it as an asset not a competition.  IF you were all of that by yourself then you would not be somewhere asking for someone else's help. 

I heard my favorite Pastor........Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr. tell this story that I will share.  He said that one night an angel took him on a tour of heaven and hell, and they oddly looked very close to each other.  But in hell there were people sitting at a table looking skinny and starving.  In the middle of the table was a bowl of the most delicious stew you could ever eat.  BUT.........the spoons to eat the stew we too long for you to be able to get the spoon to your mouth.  So the people in hell just sat there looking at this stew and not being able to eat it, and were forever dying of starvation.  Now the angel took him to heaven, and oddly there was another table with hungry people sitting all around with delicious stew and spoons too long for you to feed yourself.  But the people in heaven were just as happy and full of nourishment.  What they did in heaven is that everyone took a spoon and they fed their neighbor so that everyone got a chance to eat and they all depended on each other for nourishment.

Pick up the spoon that you have in your possesion...........but cannot use............... AND FEED SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!  Before long someone will come along and feed you!

Talk to you guys again real soon!