In a world too often filled with “appealing to the majority”
and “elevating the whole rather than recognizing its parts,” rewards for
“pulling yourself up by the bootstraps” have been minimized – a sad testimony
that the voice of the individual has succumbed to the shouts of the masses. We were recently able to celebrate the birth
of our country but in a manner much different than ever before – in a world of
“social distancing” and equity sensitivity...of an awareness of what “others do
not have” rather than of what was sacrificed by all to create our country and a
focus upon what we do not have rather than focusing upon what must be done to
allow each to accomplish things individually (rather than providing the results
of effort without building sustainability).
Our country – formed by a dream of individuality which
(though not perfect) still provides greater opportunity for individual success
than does any other country in the world.
While equality would be nice in a “perfect world,” all individuals are
different – having different skills, abilities, knowledge, experience and
upbringing. Equity (the ability of each
to rise because of their individual gifts and abilities – to not be held back
because of another’s inability to or disinterest in contributing) still tends
to drive the success of our country – attracting and retaining talented
individuals that can become co-partners in our accomplishments, their “reward” being
the alignment of their “contributions” in life, work and/or relationships to
the results they are able to achieve.
Business leaders have the ability to leverage the talents of
others – bringing together diverse thoughts, abilities and cultures – to
generate success by focusing individual strengths into a common good to
accomplish a single goal. Coaches have
the ability to maximize the contributions of individuals – highlighting what
they can contribute while compensating for their weaknesses – in order to win. Politicians are able to motivate the majority
– identifying and speaking to the needs of a diverse electorate – as they seek
to attract a majority of electors as they talk about (and hopefully carry out
if elected) their Party platform.
Teachers must bring enough of the class to an acceptable level of
proficiency so that test scores reflect grade-level expectations (BUT far too
few carry “the gifted” to their full potential because they are too busy
bringing up those not yet meeting standards to reward those exceeding them). There are many examples of how effective
teams or groups of people are when properly aligned BUT in many of those
accounts we often lose the power of one...of the individual willing to risk
more than others feel comfortable considering in order to achieve more than
others might even imagine (let alone expect).
While “the power of team” is an important component within today’s
world, the “power of the individual” is far more critical. Teams carry the burden but individuals often
identify the path upon which they must travel.
A group can work together to find or enact a workable solution but an
individual often identifies the problem and offers alternatives to its
resolution. A team can win a war but
victory would not be possible were it not for a multitude of individual “wins” and
a similar number of individual “losses.”
It is refreshing to land upon an island of individuality
when sailing the seas of mediocrity – to find a land that acknowledges and
rewards the achievements of dedicated individuals facing insurmountable odds rather
than making excuses for their failure to compete or shifting the blame to
others should outcomes not be as expected.
Most life situations that are eventually resolved focus upon an ideal we
once held true – that hard work and dedication will pay off in the end. We see the dreams and aspirations of
individuals either brought to fruition OR dashed upon a rocky shore – either
celebrated in victory or shattered beyond all recognition – either initiating additional
hard work to “repeat the victory” or “snatch victory from the jaws of defeat”
next time around. Only an individual can
take full accountability for his or her actions to produce significant results
– which is often far more difficult to do than to hide behind the mask of a
group and find anonymity within the safety of numbers.
In order to celebrate the individual we must refuse to
believe that another person (group or team) is responsible for our
success. Every individual makes a
conscious decision using their mind and will to apply their unique talents and
abilities towards identifying and enacting a solution OR letting their talents lie
dormant (allowing themselves to become more a part of the ongoing problem). Within a team, a group or a relationship, refuse
to accept the concept that you must give more just because you can – that you
must always “do for others” rather than teaching them how to “do for themselves.” We are a society founded not upon “from each
according to their ability, to each according to their need” but rather upon
“TO each according to their ability (and their dedicated efforts to contribute)
in order to meet their individual needs.”
Celebrate individuality – immerse yourself in the results of
your personal accomplishments as you advance the team (group or relationship)
RATHER THAN seeking first the acceptance of the team without acknowledging your
contribution to its growth and success.
In order to BE SPECIAL we must ACCEPT OURSELVES as being unique,
individual, capable and accomplished. We
must recognize that being an individual can be a good thing (rather than a
“squeaky wheel” seeking grease). We must
celebrate our capabilities – the individual strengths that we have developed
and the person that we have become – if we are to become an equal and
contributing part of the solution (team or relationship) rather than a major
part of the problem (obstacle or disruption).
It is good to belong to a unique and talented group of
people (or a close personal relationship) that can accomplish great things
through the power of many (or of two).
We will be able to accomplish so much more, however, when we acknowledge
that our individual contribution helps to create the outcome rather than
allowing the outcome to define us.
Celebrate yourself and your capabilities (perhaps more than ever during
these “troubled waters” in which we currently live) – for “If not now, when? If
not you, who?” Exercise the individuality within you to advance your teams,
your relationships AND yourself to become all that you were meant to be. Fully develop and use the gifts and abilities
you were given then freely celebrate the unique and special person you are
(within a world of teams, groups and relationships needing humble individual
contributors to accomplish the best possible outcome for all).
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