Teamwork, connections, genuine relationships, long-term friendship are all vital to how we feel and how we succeed. I was born in South Africa and there is an African concept called Ubuntu, which defines a collective existence - "I am Because We Are".
World Class teams like the 2007/8 NBA Celtics, under Head Coach Doc Rivers, and the World Cup Winning South African Rugby team have used it to go to a higher level.
I think of it in a simple way, "We are all better because we all strive together". If you take life as a zero sum game it will BE a zero sum game. If you are proactive, collegiate and helpful in everything you do, you and your business will be better for it AND you will be happier. So next time you are in work, in a team or striving to succeed, pay it forward and help each other succeed. Openly and honestly.
My example is through Fast Jet Pilot Training. The training is relentless, tough and demanding. Everyone has a wobble, everyone should, it pushes you to the edge of what you can achieve as a human being, physically and cognitively. When a course goes through training as a bunch of individuals they always struggle. If they bond and work as a team they all succeed, together.
I had the pleasure of going through training with some amazing people and they all helped me get through. One of the most inspiring on my course was Mandy. Mandy was only the second woman to become a Tornado pilot on the front line, flying fast jets, after the profession had opened up in the RAF. Her book "An Officer and not a Gentleman" is a brilliant and entertaining insight into her perspectives, flying, combat and life. Mandy is now in business and is a quite superb public speaker. Why not look her up at www.mandyhickson.com
She is funny and engaging with wise ideas.
Together on our course, without even knowing it, Mandy and I, as well as many others were using Ubuntu to get through and achieve our dreams. Why not try it?
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