What do a high school cross country team and an award-winning website have in common? More than you think.
My nephew, Blake, wrote a poignent Facebook post about his learning experiences through his cross country season in his senior year at Holy Innocents. Now, everyone who knows Blake would agree he is wise beyond his 17 years, and a young man who loves and serves God. In his post, he shared how he accomplished some of his personal goals regarding his running season, but fell short on others.
He comes to the conclusion that the teamwork, comraderie, and collective work ethic he experienced with his team was, in the end, more important that winning all the prizes. Blake, at 17, realizes that the growth and satisfaction is in the journey toward the goal, not the goal itself. What an important realization that will serve him well all his life.
In life, you simply don’t win all the time. The best companies on earth don’t win every bid. The most talented writers don’t always get recognition. My brother Grant (Blake’s father) is a brilliant attorney, but he doesn’t win every case. How we handle defeat and loss is just as important as graciously accepting recognition.
This past week, a creative team that I was a part of recieved an International Davy Award for a webpage for which I produced content. I can’t even express the joy I felt when our team received this honor, and I’ve been reflecting on it for the past few days. I think our Davy Award, and my nephew’s cross country season, have a few things in common.
It’s About People First
Blake hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that the individual efforts each of his teammates was never about individual goals, it was always about the team goal. On our website, I felt the same way. I am only a writer, I cannot produce web design. Our web designer needed strong content. Our client contributed an incredible vision, and the Marketing Agency Principal, Tracy Woodall, guided the strategy behind the project.
If any one of these people had not been part of this team, there would be no award. If we had not trusted in the talents and abilities of our team mates, no award. If our client hadn’t believed in us, no award. We talked through our different perspectives to arrive at a solution that was best for our client, not best for ourselves.
Like Blake, I will always have a special bond with this team, specifically for this season of work. We were paid, but it was truly a labor of love. That project wrapped up about a year ago, and we are all still working together on other projects because we believe in one another. The Davy Award is just an industry validation for the work we did, and the fact that we gave it the very best we had.
Joy In the Journey
When we were in the thick of production, we had no idea our project would ever be considered for an award. Tracy Woodall, Woodall Creative Group principal, has won many awards in her lifetime. The rest of us, not so much. The only goal we had was doing the very best work we could for one another, and ultimately, our client. Our satisfaction came from working together on this project.
Blake’s team went all in for the team effort. Individual accomplishments were nice, but in the end, it was about team. Their reward was in the lifetime bonds they created at this young age, cheering one another on to accomplish the bigger goals.
Both teams bonded over a collective effort. We supported one another and believed for the best with our God-given hope. Both teams had tangible results that we can thank God for. We grew in this process, and I don’t think we’d change anything.
God Gets the Glory
When we focus on people first, look at the journey and not the end goal, then everything we do can be about glorifying God for the learning opportunity. When we focus on God, give Him gratitude for the opportunities that come our way, then we free Him up to bless us. By the way, “blessing” does not always mean “winning.”
Winning by the world’s standards is very different than winning by God’s standards. Here are a few thoughts on blessing/winning by God’s standards:
- You are drawing closer to God and to others in the process
- Your character and integrity are in tact
- You are leading in love
- You allow God to be glorified in your situation
- You say YES rather than no when God gives you risky opportunities
- You remain positive even when you face challenges, and don’t blame each other for failures
A Victory
My nephew Blake already realizes that his cross country team are champions. They quit judging themselves according to times and trophies, and started celebrating the teamwork, relationships and growth they experienced. In anyone’s book, that’s winning!
If our team had not won the Davy Award, the project wouldn’t have diminished at all in my eyes, nor any of my teammates. Kim, our client would have been just as happy. Tracy, Jeffrey and I would have been just as pleased as we already were with our result.
So, thank God for the victories in your life. Think about the teams, families, and offices you are a part of and what blessing looks like in that environment. It might not always be what you think. But when you commit it to God in prayer, you may be pleasantly surprised at what He shows you.
So, enjoy your blessings and God’s victories. And in the process, remember to Praise Crazy!
Crazy Praise Club! 