Ducks In A Row: Team Support
by Miki Saxon
This is a guest post from Becky Robinson, who writes Weaving Influence, and is also working with Kevin Eikenberry on the launch today of his new book, From Bud to Boss; Becky is Director of Social Media Marketing and Community Building.
In all honesty I haven’t read the book, but I can say that Kevin is well-grounded and typically gives solid, common sense advice.
In this post, Becky offers up her own savvy input on the importance of team support.
The Final Mile
If you’ve worked on a big project lately, you know that fatigue can set in as you approach the final days before the launch.
In mid-December, I joined a new team to help with the promotion of a new book, due out for publication today.
I am working with two authors who I knew, in varying degrees, before I joined the team. At that point, they had already done the work to bring the book to print: the planning, the writing, and the editing.
In many ways, I joined them during the 4th quarter, the 9th inning, the final mile of a marathon.
By the time I get to the final miles or yards of a long race, I am running on pure guts. To keep myself going, I remind myself of how far I’ve come, how little I have left in comparison, and why I am running in the first place.
Yet despite my mental gymnastics, I find myself slowing. Many times, until I can actually see the finish line, I am barely shuffling along.
When I’ve run long distance races before, I’ve watched with envy as fellow runners are joined by friends or family members in those last miles. Suddenly, those runners pick up the pace, encouraged by the presence of others to help them along. Their friends have fresh legs and they seem to impart extra energy just by their presence.
Ending a race well is important.
Having a strong team to surround you is a great way to increase your chances of success when you are completing a long term project. When you feel depleted, you can rely on the energy and enthusiasm of your teammates. When you feel refreshed, you can give support to others.
You can even add team members to your project during the final miles to gain their strength as you finish your project. When they join you with fresh legs, you’ll find yourself running even faster toward your finish line.
If you’re interested in the new book I’ve been working on, you can learn more at www.frombudtoboss.com. From Bud to Boss: Secrets to a Successful Transition to Remarkable Leadership is a new book from Kevin Eikenberry and Guy Harris. If you buy the book today, you will be able to access great bonuses from our partners.
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zedbee/103147140/
February 15th, 2011 at 2:54 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Becky Robinson, Kevin, Guy, Becky and Becky Robinson, Option Sanity™. Option Sanity™ said: Ducks In A Row: Team Support http://f.ast.ly/4E7CH […]
February 15th, 2011 at 3:41 am
[…] I have a post at Miki Saxon’s blog. It’s appropriate for today and I am thankful to her for posting it. It captures how I feel […]
February 15th, 2011 at 7:49 am
As a former marathoner with six medals (for finishing, not winning… I’m a back-of-the-packer), I can relate to Becky’s post, personally and professionally.
In June 2008, Becky & I fundraised and finished a half-marathon together to support the Coach Ed Thomas family Foundation in memory of the Aplington-Parkersburg football coach killed by a former player. Coach Thomas was a family friend, and when Becky learned I was fundraising and training for the marathon, she said, without a second thought, “What if I did it with you?”
At the time, I’d only known Becky for a few months. We met on Twitter, and when I visited Chicago for a conference, I invited her to dinner for a chance to meet in person. Now, here she was willing to put in the long hours and miles, raise money, and drive to Des Moines for 13.1 miles. As we know and love about Becky, when she gets an idea in her head, WATCH OUT. =)
Not only did Becky finish the race at her normal pace (faster than mine), she turned around and walked back to find me, adding another three or four miles to her total. We finished the race (Becky for the second time), with tears in our eyes, hands held and raised to the sky. After a brief cool-down, she hopped in her car for the 6-hour drive back to Chicago.
That’s Becky. That’s her perseverance, her dedication, her heartfelt service to others. She’s put the same tireless energy and effort into this book launch, and with support from Kevin, Guy and the rest of the team, it will be successful. Becky is REMARKABLE!
February 15th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Hi Angie, thanks for taking time to tell this story. Everybody needs at least one Becky in their life!
February 15th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Angie,
You are so kind to share that story here. It’s a great memory for me — something I will never forget and I am honored that I got to share that experience with you.
Miki, thanks for hosting this post here. I appreciate your encouragement and support.
February 15th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
It’s my pleasure, Becky. It’s a great lesson and I’m sure my readers enjoyed it (now they just have to practice it in case they aren’t already:)
February 15th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Miki,
Happy to share Becky’s story… as I told her, I wanted people to know more about WHO she is, not just WHAT she does. You are exactly right that we need soulfriends, leaderfriends, and soulfriends like Becky.
I see you’re on LinkedIn, I’ll send an invite to connect. Are you on Facebook or Twitter?
February 15th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Angie, I agree, WHO we are is far more important than WHAT we do!
I’m not social but my new product is; check out Option Sanity on Twitter and Facebook, and we have a channel on YouTube.
May 15th, 2011 at 4:33 am
[…] Ducks in a Row: Team Support […]