Whether you are talking about the game on the field – or – about the game of life, teamwork matters the most. 

And when it comes right down to it, the true essence of teamwork is servant-hood: “How far are you are willing to go for the guy next to you?” 

When we can open our eyes and develop the vision to see that the needs of others are just as important – or more so – than those of our own, we then begin to reach, affirm and connect to those around us in a powerful and lasting manner. 

Affirming the value of their needs and connecting to others by demonstrating our willingness to sacrifice our personal goals for the bigger picture – a team objective – gives birth to an attitude that can grow and spread in exponential fashion.   

And once that begins to happen, the moments to come are ripe with opportunity for achievement, excellence and success. 

Giving it up for them brings it all to fruition. 

For them.

And ultimately, you.

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”  

     -Vince Lombardi

Each one of us is blessed with our own, unique set of gifts, talents and abilities. Granted to none other. No one is alike. As such, all of us are a masterpiece in our own way. 

And yet despite this, we choose to spend a great deal of our time hiding them away, electing to focus our energies in other ventures. Like aiming to be the influencer of the moment.

Chasing an apparition of some other figure, rather than just working on becoming the absolute best version of ourselves. 

Granting consideration and giving attention to only some of our talents.

Reducing and leveling ourselves in certain respects to that of another – in lieu of being who we really are.

And what we are meant to become.

Keeping hidden away what is already in our possession. Never giving a second thought to the wonderful array of talents in our possession and at our immediate disposal. 

Focus your energies on becoming the absolute best version of you.

For in the final analysis, the true measure of yourself is always conducted from the inside out first- not the other way around. 

That is precisely how you determine the measure of yourself. 

By doing. 

Resolve that whatever you do, you will bring the whole man to it; that you will fling the whole weight of your being into it.

Orison Swett Marden

Bringing the whole man – or woman – to it is akin to emptying yourself onto that field.

But this is not limited to exertion in a purely physical sense. There needs to be a common mental, emotional and spiritual investment as well.

Like “leaving it on the field”, you need to be ‘all in”. Holding back anything in the smallest measure will onlt breed regret should the attempt fall short. And absolutely no one needs that weight on their shoulders or psyche.

The only fitting way to fling the whole weight of your being into your aspirations is to just let go and empty yourself out.

The affirmation produced by such an action will act to refill you in all aspects.

Perfect.

So you have it within you to do it all over again.

We are all meant to be extraordinary.

Each of us a masterpiece in our own way, with abilities and talents to be maximized and capacities to be filled. All of which are intended to compliment the whole. For each of us is meant to have an impact. Each of us matters.

From a team perspective, it is leadership’s first mission to grasp this essential truth. For, once you are able to see yourself in this light, then you will be able to see others from this same perspective.

You will then be in a position to solicit their talents and abilities, enriching them as you begin to enrich the whole as well. As you bring their strengths to bear and push them towards the pursuit of excellence, then work can commence on tapping their potential.

That reservoir residing in us all. A reserve that is far more about capacity than it is weakness. The part in us that is meant to be “full-filled.”

Leadership, then, is not merely the act of soliciting that “something” from those around us. Leadership is more so the endeavor of eliciting that something special – the greatness – that lies within all of us.

Through serving them.

“Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.” ― Paulo Coelho

In many respects, when you go about things with “eyes closed” you choose to blind yourself to the reality of the moment.

Seeing yourself not as a work in progress – but as fully complete. Becoming distracted by your past and what you think is yet to come. Believing that a failure – or failures – means total defeat. Misunderstanding the true essence of criticism, instruction and coaching.

In short, your eyes may be wide open.

But lacking focus – you will remain hopelessly vision impaired.

Blind to the reality of the moment.