"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I long for TEAM.

I long for TEAMMATES.

I long for BATTLES fought with brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, cousins, surrounding me on all sides.

I long for VICTORIOUS SEASONS where victory is measured by love, sacrifice, forgiveness and commitment to the team.

I long for TEAM.

So many leaders claim they are "team builders". They preach the value of individuals coming together for the TEAM. They push team members to give to the TEAM. They make speeches, inspiring the value of TEAM. They invent annual team building events that excite members emotionally to long for TEAM.

"We're in this together, people...TEAM....TEAM...TEAM!!"

But when it comes down to it, what so many really want is success. And so what many coaches do is use "TEAM" more like a tool to get that success. But in their heart, it's not about true TEAM, it's really about utilizing whatever methods needed to win. And that is NOT true team.

I long for TRUE team.

I long for TRUE teammates.

I long for BATTLES fought with TRUE brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, cousins, surrounding me on all sides.

I long for VICTORIOUS SEASONS where TRUE victory is measured by TRUE love, TRUE sacrifice, TRUE forgiveness and TRUE commitment to the team.

I long for TRUE TEAM.

For the fact is, true team is hard, hard work. True Team Builders realize this and they realize that the real MIRACLE of any season is being able to create that TRUE TEAM. True team that loves, that sacrifices, that forgives, that commits, that lasts far beyond the final buzzer. True team is the ultimate victory.......and ironically when it happens, inevitably, success follows!

CLICK ON LINK: to view classic short story of Wealth, Success and Love

Do yourself and your team a favor and start really investing in true team. Make this your goal---Work on it every day---Demand that your players participate---Celebrate the days when you attain it----Persevere through the days when you don't---Struggle throughout to keep it. Make TRUE TEAM your priority every day!

Why?

Because if you do, your season will epic: it will surpass the ordinary in every way. And isn't that the way life should be? Our young people do not need more trophies, more tweets, more pictures of accomplishment, they NEED real life experiences of love, of sacrifice, of forgiveness, of commitment to TEAM. Things that transcend sport and will never go away.

Be THAT Team Builder today!

Chris Willertz 
SportsLeader: Virtue = Strength!!

*SportsLeader has facilitated a multitude of TEAM BUILDING events for sports teams, coaching staffs and even whole school staffs. We would love to support you in whatever TEAM BUILDING-LEADERSHIP initiatives you are planning. Please feel free to contact us if you have any needs or questions.