I have learned a few things throughout my life and have a small list of “secrets” that I hope everyone else has learned or will learn:  you get back what you give (Karma), paper is always strongest on the perforations (Brannon’s Law – this is a Universal Constant second only to Murphy’s Law – hopefully everyone knows this one), all of us is smarter than any one of us and life is much easier when we help each other — marriages work better, families work better, businesses work better and society itself works better.

This concept of teamwork is one that we stress as much as possible, because it is so vitally important to us all.  When any one of us fails to do a complete or adequate job, some or all of the rest of us suffer in one way or another.  If Customer Service runs off the customers; we have no work; if the Mechanics can’t keep the trucks on the road, we are unable to perform and therefore, we have no work, if the Yard Team doesn’t ensure our units are up to quality, we have no work; if Dispatch doesn’t figure out how to push the work out in an efficient manner, we have no work; if any Field Worker doesn’t perform adequately, we have no work; if Sales doesn’t get the work, we have no work, if Management can’t figure out how to make it all work together, we have no work and if David and Tanis’ vision, leadership or passion fail, we have no jobs. . .  The Bible discusses teamwork in many different places but I wanted to highlight these:

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” — A team has checks and balances, one person watches the other one’s back. They help them if they falter or lose sight of the goal, just like in friendship. A good friend isn’t someone who always agrees with you, what you do, or what you say. A real friend is someone that is willing to challenge you, to be better as a person. A team player encourages his fellow teammates to be better players.

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” — Just like the many cultures and peoples of the world have their great minds, speakers and teachers. So does each team have great players, some destined to greatness and some that will be leaders taking their team to high places. Teamwork relies on everyone knowing the position and fulfilling it, but the end result still hinges on the attitudes, actions and spirit of every single player; for just as a chain, we are only as strong as our weakest link.

So, do your job and do it well; hold yourself to the highest of standards, help each other, encourage each other and hold each other accountable; and if you ever feel like what you do doesn’t matter. . . think again.  What you do and the manner in which you do it matters. It matters to each and every one of us, it matters to our customers, our families and it matters to God.  

We are J-Bar — we are blessed beyond measure. We love — we are thankful beyond measure. We serve, and in so doing become the leaders that God wants us to be.