Friendly Alliances

You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you.
You have to go to them sometimes.
~  A. A. Milne  (Piglet to Pooh)

So yesterday, we talked about the importance of key alliances, what Napoleon Hill calls the Mastermind Group.

I spent alot of time thinking about that concept, as I spent the day prepping for my same-day villa turnover.

There’s an old English saying “Many hands make light work”.   And  I’m always grateful when I’ve called in cleaning help.

Somehow the villa phoneline went out of order last week, and Spencer spent at least an hour troubleshooting the problem.   Had he been off on vacation, I would have had to deal with this.  Again, I am grateful for the strategic list of contractors I’ve assembled through the years.   What homeowner doesn’t need the aid of a good electrician, plumber, appliance repair, general handymen and yard-service??

“If everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.”

We decided to celebrate Valentines Day tonight, so instead, last night, we decided to enjoy a good bottle of red wine with an easy pasta dinner.  I tried something new, and it didn’t turn out as planned.   The recipe called for “creamed cheese” and I was trying out a new plant-based alternative by Daiya, whose cheese shreds I love.    Instead of “plain” creamed cheese, it tasted more like “Nestle’s Strawberry Quick”.    Fine for spreading on a bagel, but not so good for a savory pasta dish.    I went over to my facebook group “Power to the Veg” to find out which brand of cream-cheese is the group favorite.  I now have the support of a growing membership of 1,300+ veg*ns.   Tofutti brand seems to be the group favorite.

“If we would just support each other – that’s ninety percent of the problem.”

We settled in for the night, to watch the Olympics, and the Double Luge.   Talk about teamwork!  How can a sled be steered down a slippery, winding coarse, where one man can’t even see where he’s going ?!?!?!    It was no surprise to me that a team of brothers would win the Gold.   I know with my own brother there was always an unspoken intuitiveness that ran between us whenever we combined efforts.   Things came naturally.

“Finding good players is easy. Getting them to play as a team is another story.”

One thing to keep in mind …. Remember that in the chapter on Decision, we are advised to keep our own counsel.   When we begin this chapter on Teamwork, we may be tempted to start assembling a team right away.

I personally have seen such actions as the demise of many ideas.    I’m always reminded of lesson a friend shared from Wharton Business School.   Decisions made by a group are never as sound as a decision made by one.

Before we begin assembling our team, we must have grown the idea into a very sound plan.   By ourself.   If we do not have a very clear goal in place, the work of the team will be wishy-washy.   And it will eventually collapse.

My partner in PC Paradise truly was at the forefront of the emerging villa market.   And owned the domain name “1-800-Villas”.    He could have become what “HomeAway.com” or “VRBO.com” is today.   Unfortunately, he did not have a clear vision and he was horrible at teamwork.   Ideas that the team brought to the table were never respected.   But how could they be?   The goal was unclear, so the roadmap we were assembling, and the necessary team to achieve it never went into place.   No synergy was ever created.

When looking to assemble our team, Hill writes: “Choose to associate with people who share common values, goals, and interests.   Yet, choose those who each individually have a strong desire to contribute to the overall effort. ”

Two qualities should be paramount:

1)  The ability to do the job.   Look beyond merely people we know and like.

2)  The ability to work in a spirit of harmony with others.   Personal ambition, including our own, must be subordinate to the achievement of the alliance.

Also, confidentiality is key.   People who love to give away ideas outside the group, because they talk too much, should be excluded.

“When considering your group, be fair and generous in compensation for their efforts.   Each member must agree at the outset on the contribution each will make, and how the benefits and profits will be decided.”

This can’t be stressed enough!!   Put a partnership agreement of some type in place immediately upon formation of a business group.   “Otherwise, be assured that dissension will arise, you’ll have wasted everyone’s time, you will ruin friendships, and your venture will be destroyed.”

Once you do assemble the team, maintaining perfect harmony is essential.   Follow this instruction to the letter.   The environment should be non-threatening to explore ideas.  Dealings should always be ethical, and as the leader of the group, you must inspire confidence.

When the time comes to present your efforts to the public, this is when the alliance really pays off.  “The courage of separate individuals is nothing compared with that of a united team.”   The more we maintain harmony, the greater the power when resistance comes.

To conclude our section on teamwork, I offer up some more thoughts and quotes on the value of teamwork.   May the force be with you <3

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

When was ever honey made with one bee in a hive?
Thomas Hood

No member of a crew is praised for the rugged individuality of his rowing.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success.
Henry Ford

Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
Andrew Carnegie

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity;
every player must put the team first-ahead of personal glory.
Paul William “Bear” Bryant

None of us is as smart as all of us.
Ken Blanchard