The Power of Teamwork

Some of my favorite times in college were in the locker room messing with my teammates. Those were some of the closest relationships of my life. Many of those guys were in my wedding. My oldest son is named after one of them. After college most moved away and started a family. That is when I first felt all alone. But I have built a new team for myself: I have coaches, teammates, and I am a coach to many now. My new team of MEN are my closest male relationships.

This week we covered the "All Alone Wound". It is a social, emotional  and spiritual loss caused by the lack of healthy male teammates.

The consequences from this wound are: 1. a warped perspective on life. You don't have an accurate picture of yourself, you need feedback from trusted teammates to get an accurate picture. 2. The potential for careless living and foolish choices. Who do you surround yourself with? Who really knows you? You are an average of the people you associate with. 3. A lost chance for much needed transparency. You need confidants that can understand you and help you.

Who are your teammates? Do you need teammates? Here are some ways to build health teammates. 1. Learn how to be a loyal teammate who encourages others. You are there no matter what. 2. Learn how to ask good questions and take genuine interest in others. Maintain a healthy balance of talking and listening. 3. Be willing to be vulnerable and transparent  You need relationships that move beyond the surface and get to the soul level. 4. Initiate with other men. This takes courage.

Who are your mentors/coaches? Wisdom is the ability to learn form the experience of others with out having to face the consequences yourself. You need their hindsight to be your foresight. In the seasons of growth of my life I had mentors investing in me. Mentors want the best in you even when you cant see it in yourself.

Who are you investing in? Who is your protege? If you are ready for this in your life there are countless teenage boys, young husbands, young fathers who need someone to help them along the journey to Authentic Manhood. You have the opportunity to give back and invest in others. Most often times the most influential person in a kids life is their friend's parents. Be someone with character and skills that they can admire.

We all need someone to mentor/coach us along the way. We need teammates that are at our level and know what we are going through. We all need to give back to someone and be a mentor/coach. What are you going to do today to influence someone to be a better man.

Remember Authentic Men: 1. Reject Passivity 2. Lead Courageously 3. Accept Responsibility 4. Invest Eternally