The Boys in the Boat
A few years ago, a mentor of mine recommended I read The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Based on the true story of the 1936 American Crew team and their quest to win a gold medal at the Olympics, this book was hard for me to put down. I enjoyed it so much, that it ended up making my list of top books that I recommend to others. I was hooked by the tale of an underdog and the improbable odds this group faced. The stories of the individual boys were compelling and exemplified great life lessons. This week we gathered as a family to watch the adapted movie produced and directed by George Clooney. As we enjoyed the heartwarming story, I couldn’t help but take some inspiration for this week’s MIBE Message.
The reason we start doing something is not always the reason we continue to do it. As we move forward in our lives, learn new things, and go through a variety of experiences, our perspective can change. The main character profiled, Joe Rantz, tried out for the rowing team out of desperation. He was living out of a car, standing in food lines, and desperately trying to find a job that would help him pay his tuition. Making the team held the promise of a place to live, a steady job, and would allow him to continue his studies. This reasoning was shared by many of his teammates, but by the end of the story they were rowing for totally different reasons. They found community, uncovered natural talents, and inspired a nation which brought purpose to their lives.
The story is also a great lesson in overcoming adversity and the importance of teamwork in doing so. The book details how a group of people from diverse backgrounds can indeed find a way to come together and accomplish something amazing. But what struck me, was that the key ingredient to their success was heart. They had to trust one another before they could be successful and in order to trust one another, they had to care about each other. This line from the books depicts exactly that:
“What mattered more than how hard a man rowed was how well everything he did in the boat harmonized with what the other fellows were doing. And a man couldn’t harmonize with his crew mates unless he opened his heart to them. He had to care about his crew.”
One of our convictions at MIBE is “Value people for more than the job they do.” As leaders we have to truly care about the people on our teams for them to reach their full potential. If we expect them to work as one, then we must create an environment where they trust and care for one another. This is not easy to do, but organizations that figure it out, far outpace those who don’t. It’s also helpful to remember that not everything has to be laid out in a direct course. It’s nice when things work out that way, but more often than not life gives us twists and turns. We must be able to adapt to the challenges that come our way, be willing to try new paths and recalibrate along the way. And when we do, we often find deeper meaning that eclipses the original reason we started on that path in the first place.
Get your team in the same boat (rowing the same direction).
Join us at our upcoming Heart Leadership Workshop August 5-6th. You don’t have to row it alone, bring your whole crew!
