Develop a Team

Sometimes, we have to table new things that we're reading about and simply throw ourselves out into the world to see what happens. We left yesterday morning for Nashville, and we just got back.

In the span of 36 hours, I traveled 600 miles, had significant conversations with several people about their life's purpose, visited an exhibition of Impressionist painters, learned about the life of glass artist Dale Chihuly, and slept an amazing 11 hours straight.

The thing that struck me the most about my jaunt was the importance of developing a team of supporters. Dale Chihuly began as a glass blower in the 1970s. Over the years, he invited a variety of people to work with him. Today, he is the one of the world's most highly recognized glass artists.

Even though Dale has lost the sight in one eye and cannot lift anything heavy with his right arm, he is still creating magnificent glass objects. He draws a very swift sketch of his idea, and members of his team lift the heavy poles and shove the glass into the furnace. With their two good eyes and strong arms, they execute what he imagines.

I think about where Dale Chihuly would be today if he had insisted on working solo. When he lost his sight and strength, it would have been the end of his production. The world would not be enjoying the jaw-dropping glass objects that his team is still producing. I'm glad that he had the foresight to realize that two heads are always better than one.

We were not put on the planet to carry out our purposes all by ourselves. We need other people to fill in the gaps where we are weak. They need our strengths to help them fulfill their dreams, too.

The apostle Paul compared believers to body parts. He pointed out that each part of our bodies has a special function, just as each person has a special task to perform while he is here on Earth. He wrote, If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? (I Cor 12:17) In other words, each of us is indispensible on God's team.

Who is on your team? If you find yourself walking alone toward your goal, ask someone to help you. You'll discover, as Dale Chihuly did, that two heads are better than one. Who knows? They may one day serve as your eyes or your hands.

Tomorrow, we will resume our study of Jack Canfield's Success Principle #16.

Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com