Teamwork and Commitment
Last month Somerset leadership attended the local university’s basketball tipoff event. As loyal supporters of Middle Tennessee State University’s athletics we welcomed the opportunity to see and hear about the upcoming college basketball season. The team and local supporters have high hopes as the team enters the season following a record breaking season of wins. ESPN basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes served as the keynote speaker, while country music artist Aaron Tippin provided entertainment for the event. The event was also being held in the newly finished Student Union Building. Typically, these type events can turn into long drawn out sermons on the virtues of the university with the coach and others droning on about what they expect from the team. Many times it is a call out for more financial support. However, this event turned out to be nothing like previous events. In addition to being well organized, having great food and being held in a super facility, it turned into a very meaningful night of reflection. Aaron Tippin started the night of reflection as he discussed our military heroes and the commitment they continue to make for our country. He followed with his very poignant anthem to our military with his hit “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly”. Then ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes provided examples of two major topics which relate very closely to not only basketball, but to life. Dykes focused his comments on teamwork and commitment.
Dykes talked about the need for teamwork; how everyone has a role and everyone working together to do their best can produce positive outcomes. He used the MTSU basketball team who was coming off a record year to illustrate that hard work and playing as a team allowed them to achieve unprecedented results. The previous year, the team set records for wins as well as numerous other firsts. He attributed the success to hard work and working as a team. The team had no super recruits or 4/5 star athletes like some of the larger more well-known basketball schools. MTSU was able to succeed because they played as a cohesive team with players understanding their roles while executing what they had practiced.
Teamwork is a key element in achieving success and one, we at Somerset believe, allows our company to be better than the rest. Developing a cohesive team takes time. Cohesive teams effectively communicate and have leaders and team members who are committed to doing the best they can in any situation. Teamwork is an essential element of superior organizations whether playing a sport or operating a logistics company. Dykes’ other key point dealt with commitment.
Jimmy Dykes talked specifically about the need for commitment and how commitment to his profession allowed him to rise above the norm. Prior to the event we had little knowledge of Jimmy Dykes. We were basketball fans and knew many of the other ESPN announcers such as Dick Vital, Bob Knight, and Len Elmore, but really we had little knowledge of Jimmy Dykes. We knew he had done the color commentary for several of the MTSU’s post season games, but not much else. Dykes went through a short summary of his life as an ex basketball player and coach, turned announcer. He stated that he was doing 6-8 games a year early in his career when he decided to visit ESPN headquarters with a demand for more air time. This turned into a life changing realization that he would never be the top announcer at ESPN. ESPN basically told him he was lucky for what he had and the big games would continue to go to the announcers who had been successful coaches or All Americans. Armed with this realization and now humbled he decided that this meeting would not define him or become the downfall of his dream. At that time he committed to being the very best he could at his trade. He watched more film than other announcers, visited and talked to more universities, players and coaches than anyone. He focused and committed to being overly prepared for each game. He committed himself to his profession. Over time this commitment to his trade paid off. He is still not the number 1 or even the number 2 announcer, but he has carved a special niche and now is one of the primary announcers on many of the ESPN affiliate stations. Dykes now announces as many or more games than many of the marquee announcers. He used his example of commitment and related it back to our basketball team with the question, are you committed to being the best that you can be? You might not be superstars, but have you done everything you can to be prepared for the season? He knew Coach Kermit Davis was committed. Through observation he believed that the basketball team was also committed and hungry to achieve even better success than the previous year.
Teamwork and commitment are two essential components in achieving success. Organizations with cohesive teams achieve greater success than other similar companies. Commitment to excellence and commitment to your profession can have positive life changing affects. Are you working within a team that is committed to excellence? Have you done your part to commit to being the best that you can be? If not then make some life changing decisions. Understand how to be a good team player, know your role and work hard to contribute to the team. Lastly, commit yourself to excellence within your chosen profession. If you want to be on a team committed to excellence please visit our website www.somersetlogistics.com or call us 877-518-4089. Join our Somerset team of committed professionals.
Lastly, we wish the best of luck to Coach Kermit Davis and the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider Basketball Team as they begin a new season.
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