The Stick or the Bundle

There have been a few times when I have watched tennis matches. It’s, normally, one player against another player (unless they are playing doubles). The results, of the match, depend on the skill of the player. There is no one else, on the court, that they can rely on when they are struggling.

I remember watching golfers like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. All of them depend on their, individual, focus and skill set to win.

There are, however, other sports that rely on team mates to win games. They include volleyball, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, rugby and many others. There is a, consistent, pattern in those sports. The team mates work together to win their games. One player, like in tennis or golf, cannot win the games.

A story, in Aesop’s Fables shares “A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune.

One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his Sons in turn he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.

The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. This they did very easily.

“My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.”

How often have you assumed that your life is like a tennis match or playing golf instead of a game of basketball, volleyball or baseball?

When you choose to join yourself to a team or a group of ethical people who are working very hard to make their lives better you reap the benefits of their synergy and skill sets. It goes both ways. When you choose to join yourself to a team or a group of ethical people who are working very hard to make their lives better you can leverage your knowledge and experience for their benefit. It can be a win/win.

As in the above fable a single stick (life) can be broken so easily. Partnering with other people (bundle) creates a level of strength that you cannot achieve on your own. If you press one key, on a piano, no song can be created. If, however, you master how to play all the keys, on a piano, beautiful music will be created. It’s the same thing about life.

It is written that Aristotle said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

The power that is derived when you, consistently, join yourself to wise people is incredible. Matshona Dhliwayo said, “A pack is greater than a wolf. One twig lights a small fire; a thousand twigs light an immense inferno. Individually, you are a warrior. Together, we are an army.”

If, today, you see yourself as a lonely “stick” you do not have to remain that way. Find a “bundle” of honest, hardworking and wise people and watch your life change in incredible ways.

I Believe in you!

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