I love football season!!! I cannot tell you when it began but I have loved the game of football as long as I can remember. I loved playing when I was younger and can boast that I lined up against George Rogers who went on to be the Heisman Trophy Winner while playing for the University of South Carolina and later a first round selection for the NFL. When I played against him in High School I can honestly report to you that he gained only 35 yards against us while I was on defense…. on that particular play. He would have gained more but his cleats got stuck in my chest.
To give some perspective to the majority of us who have Georgia ties, George Rogers is the Herschel Walker of the University of South Carolina. You may or may not know who he is but he is the equivalent of the hall of fame type star that plays or played for your favorite team. I must confess however that I do not know who played left guard or right guard as he piled up record yards while in college. I do not remember who played center or the left tackle position when he was rolling for the New Orleans Saints as a pro. But I do know this. He would not have gained a yard had it not been for those somewhat anonymous linemen. This is a good reminder. Whenever someone succeeds it is because he or she is supported by quality people within the organization. Many of these people are not visible to the public. The Running Back (or Quarterback) may get more attention in the public than the lineman but neither can accomplish anything without the other.
What is your job? What are your responsibilities? In the ministry where I serve, we have only one Executive Director and we are truly blessed. Many of our employees will never be featured on our website, called upon to address pastors, have a fancy title, or be assigned a big office….but the ministry we have cannot function without the service they provide day in and day out. If they don’t block and tackle well, the Executive Director will never be able to lead the team down the field and across the goal line. Every player counts. Every position matters. Every person makes a difference whether visible to the public or working behind the scenes. When everyone understands this concept, their leadership is maximized!
Adapted from Chapter Twenty-Seven of John G. Miller’s Outstanding; 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional