Issue #139: The More the Merrier
Sept 7, 2007
THRIVE! Talkin'!Don't just read the newsletter, live it!Jump into the THRIVE! forum and get set for success!  The More the MerrierMatthew Poepsel, LeftBrain/Co-FounderLast Monday night, I was exhausted following a Labor Day weekend full of sunshine, recreation, household duties, and way too much food. I decided to take a quick flip through the TV channels. I passed on Law and Order reruns, the Lifetime weepy movie of the week, and a gameshow on Univision. (Ay caramba!) I remembered that Labor Day means the start of College Football season. That seemed brainless enough, so I decided to check out ESPN. exhausted For some reason, I sat mesmerized staring at my screen. The faithful blimp was high above the stadium, and below it showed 83,000 cheering fans all decked out in bright orange. This was Florida State versus Clemson, and it was over the top. The ocean of orange swooned back and forth. As the camera cut to the on-the-field announcers, the sound was deafening. The scene was electric, and the crowd undulated wildly. (I almost dropped my thesaurus.) Here's the thing. I don't even know where Clemson is. (I'm assuming it's in the South and that it's warm there.) Still, I found myself drawn into Clemson Tiger football - into the crowd. It wasn't the same as being there, but I enjoyed pretending I was a part of it all. To this crowd, every play was a big play. Incomplete pass? Let's scream our heads off! First down? Let's jump up and down! When Clemson scored first, the stadium erupted. The sound was deafening. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be a part of that crowd, caught up in the group experience that swept the underdog Tigers to a 24-18 win over their rivals. Have you ever been a part of something like that? Even if you haven't ever gathered 83,000 of your closest friends into your backyard, you know what I'm talking about. When's the last time you lost yourself in a real team effort? Have you been a part of a community theatre production? Did you transcend your own role to be a real part of the cast? Have you been at the starting line of a 5K race for charity? Did you draw some extra energy from the atmosphere? (And the yummy Power Bars?) Were you one of the 1,000 volunteers who just built the world's tallest sandcastle? (Couldn't have done it without you.) Unfortunately, our society pays so much attention to individual achievements. We spend most of our day worrying about number one. Particularly in Western culture, the emphasis is on the individual. I'm the same way. More than 2/3 of my personal goals are focused on my individual achievements. (I looked it up.) In many regards, this makes sense, since you can really only make decisions about your own efforts and "only you can make it happen". Still, there's something magical about losing yourself and being part of something bigger. In group experiences, there's connection and perspective that you just can't get on your own. There's a collective energy from the crowd, and the opportunity to relish the momentum of that type of moment. We would do well to seek out that type of an experience more often. I smiled as I watched the Clemson crowd cheer with each big play. I thought about the group euphoria they must be feeling, and I really wanted to be a part of it. I just didn't want to be a part of the traffic jam after the game ended. |
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Coaching Quickie: The More the MerrierWhat's the biggest group experience you've ever been a part of?Follow the link above to vote for your response. While you're there lend us your feedback, or share some goals with fellow readers. Check back next week for results! Last Week's ResultsCoaching Quickie: Two if By Sea |
