Team Spirit

"Individual commitment to a group effort- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." ~Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then WE did it. If anything goes really good, then YOU did it." ~Paul "Bear" Bryant, NCAA Football coach

"Team Spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player." ~John Wooden

It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about the squad, the program, the team & fans we're cheering for, the school, the town, the community. You and I are a part of something bigger than either of us alone. We are BULLDOGS.You've heard the old cliche', "there's no 'I' in TEAM."

It's not about me. It can never be about you.It's all about US.Be a team player and you'll become a leader. What's it gonna be? 7 individuals who all want their own way? Two or three factions that each coalesce behind different individuals who each want to be in charge? Or ONE unit, one group, one team, one family, one squad with the same purpose- to get the crowds going and make games more fun- for EVERYBODY?

As you've read before, about other bricks in the Pyramid of Success, it might take sacrifice, selflessness, maturity, patience, compromise- but those are all things that genuine and successful leaders do. Be a leader by being a TEAM player.

Coach Wooden on Team Spirit: "This means thinking of others. It means losing oneself in the group for the good of the group. It means being not just willing but eager to sacrifice personal interest or glory for the welfare of all.

There is a profound difference between mere willingness and eagerness. A prisoner on a chain gang may be willing to break rocks to avoid punishment, but how eager is he?

Of course, we all want to do well and receive individual praise. Yes, that's fine, if you put it to use for the good of the team, whatever your team is: sports, business, family, or community.

Team spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player."

For my money, this may be the most difficult block in the pyramid to put into practice, but it may be one of the most rewarding and most important.

The reason King Aurthur's table was round, instead of rectangular, was because he saw his knights as co-equals. He wanted them to know that it wasn't all about him- they were a team. One version of the legend says that the round table was inscribed with this motto: "by serving each other, we become free."