Harmony of Effort

The first book my mentor Bill asked me to get and read was "Think and Grow Rich." He grew up in the same era as Napolean Hill and had a first-row seat to many of the people Mr. Hill met with and wrote about.?I recently gave that 1984 copy of Think and Grow Rich to my son and asked him to read it.?As I was giving it to him, I saw something I underlined in the book that triggered a conversation I had with Bill.

After reading the book the first time, Bill asked me what was something l learned was.?The easy answer was "definiteness of purpose" or "persistence," and I probably said one of those.??But as we discussed the attributes of the book, Bill had a different perspective.

Bill shared a story about when he started to expand his business from just movie theaters to restaurants.?He told me how difficult it was for him.?With his movie theaters, he had control over all the critical decisions but with the restaurants, he was new in that field and had little or no control over key hires and capital expenditures. His first restaurant went belly up. He went to his mentor, George, and asked him for advice.

George's advice to Bill was if he was going to be successful, he needed his management team not only to look after the bottom line, but they needed to work as a team.?Team effectiveness is the key to having a world-class company. ?He needed people who wanted to work with him, not for him.?That one distinction helped him expand into restaurants and other ventures, including his movie theater business.

So, as we had our first discussion about "Think and Grow Rich," one primary learning from the book and a key to grow and get what you want out of life was being a part of a team that has a harmony of effort.???

If I look back on the significant successes of my life, it often, if not always, has the attribute of harmony of effort.?

If I look at my time with the Tony Robbins security team, one thing that stands out is the quality of people on the team, who excelled in their private lives and understood the team's mission.?When we had challenges on the team is when we were out of "harmony." We were out of harmony when someone on the team had a personal agenda, didn't understand their role or the mission.?As a team leader, it was my responsibility to make sure everyone understood the mission and what role we all played at any moment. We always celebrated success and turned any failures into a learning experience.??We were successful when we all had a harmony of effort.

If you look at what happened on January 15, 2009, you had 155 people who didn't know each other or care about each other but understood the mission of the moment, as stated in the movie, "Sully,” “No one dies today." That day turned from tragedy to triumph because of the team effort of all involved, the crew, passengers, and first responding units.??Every team worked with the harmony of effort.?

Last week, as we approached the 245th anniversary of Independence Day, I was asked a question during an interview about what drives me to participate and complete the Navy Seal Swim on August 7 and do I really think I can do it. ??

I told the interviewer that probably, many of the patriots that fought in the Revolutionary War questioned if they could win that war against a power such as England.?But they understood the mission and came together as a team to turn the turmoil of the day into triumph. They had a harmony of effort to form a new country.

One of the things driving me and attracted me to participate in the Navy Seal Swim is that this effort is about the team.?The Seals, the vets, patriots, Gold Star families are coming together for a bigger mission.?It is a SACRED EVENT, and how many times in your life do you have the opportunity to serve something bigger than yourself and thank those who have given their time, effort, and lives for what the patriots fought for in the Revolutionary War.?I am a part of a team committed to working with me and training me (thank you, Coach Patty, Suzanne, Joyce, Joy, Stephen, Cassie, and my personal team), so I can be a part of an elite team.?I told the interviewer that if he could be with me every day, he would see what Bill taught me about in 1984 and why I believe I can and will be there at the 9/11 memorial on August 7: it's about the harmony of effort of the team.

With all the challenges 2020 presented, a strategy to turn that year of turmoil into 2021 being a year of triumph is to humble yourself, get around people who can help and support you.?Be a part of a team that will hold you to account and to a standard.?You will grow out of the turmoil you had in 2020 and on the road to a triumphant 2021,

I went into the waters of the Hudson River on January 15, and when I came out, I had a new purpose in my life.?My aim is to help people become the best they can be. To overcome any turmoil, they have experienced in life and turn it into a triumph. To do something for someone who cannot ever repay me.

On August 7, 2021, I'll be going back into the Hudson River, but much like that cold day in January, I won't be alone.?

I've been invited to join some of America's greatest, a group of Navy Seals to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and remember the Seal mission Extortion 17.?

It's one thing to swim on your own; it's another to swim with the Navy Seals.?

Remember the value of association.?One way to grow out of the turmoil that 2020 presented is to associate yourself with a group of five that will hold you to a standard and doing something for someone who cannot do anything for you. Like we will be doing on August 7, raising money for the GIGO Fund, helping the homeless and down on their luck veterans who continue to struggle after leaving the service and especially while we recover from COVID 19.?

My mission is simple; help those who may be going through their own turmoil from the past year with a pathway to victory and triumph and understand that you didn't get this far only to go this far!

Treat the TURMOIL of 2020 as your year of preparation and 2021 as your year to TRIUMPH!

If you would like to support my mission to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and those who lost their lives during the Extortion 17 mission, please check out my page at Dave Sanderson Seal Swim.?Thank you for your consideration.

LEAD YOURSELF FIRST and CREATE YOUR FLIGHT PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE!

?Dave Sanderson is the President of his firm, Dave Sanderson Speaks International, based out of Charlotte, NC. On January 15, 2009, Dave was one of the last passengers off the plane that crashed into the Hudson River, best known as?The Miracle on the Hudson, considered the most successful ditching in aviation history. In addition, he has built a career as a motivational speaker, mentor, and author. Recently named one of the top 100 Leadership Speakers in Inc.com. Dave averages over 80 speeches a year for major corporations worldwide.

?