Leadership

We’re all leaders.  Some on a smaller scale, such as with our families, others on a larger one with a business or government.  We’re all leaders.

Leadership is about bringing a group of people together and gelling them to become more than the sum of the parts.  A family can get more done in less time when they are all working together. My family experiences this with our house cleaning and yard work.  Right now, think of your own example where this is true.

Back in October I had an excellent experience in leadership through the good folks at GORUCK (go – ruck). About 20 of us met at Colt Park in Hartford at 7 AM. After about an hour of military style PT (Physical Training) consisting of push-ups, flutter kicks,and mountain climbers, we did wind sprints and buddy carries. This was all done with 20 lbs in a backpack. The sprint work was additionally performed while carrying 5.5 gal water cans. It was intense. I was toast after about 5 minutes of work.

Our first challenge was at a football goal post. We had five minutes to lift all 15 water cans up and over the goal post. This is where the magic kicks in, this is where we get to see God in all his glory as a member of a team. One kid, simply climbed up the goal post, sat on the cross bar and braced himself against the vertical pole. Then one guy lifted another on his back and we started handing water bottles up and over with two people on the opposite side to receive them. We were given five minutes for this task and had it completed in less than 4.
Moral: Leaders just get to work and do what they can, now.

Our second challenge required a volunteer. One of the guys in the group was a sergeant in the Army reserves. He stepped up and volunteered to lead the team.  We were given one hour to go from Colt Park to the CT River. We really had no idea how to get there other than move east.  So we picked up our water bottles, the American Flag was handed off to a flag bearer and we started moving double file. Our leader lead us left out of the park and within a quarter mile people started complaining out loud about the direction. He stopped the team and gave us a frank talk. He bonded everyone together under his leadership and we kept moving. About another half mile we saw signs for the Charter Oak Boat Landing and TL (Team Leader) instructed us to follow the signs.  We were at the landing in 15 or 20 minutes total.

Moral: Leaders take charge. They give orders when necessary and they trust their instincts.

Once at the landing our Cadre (group instructor) had us link arms and walk into the water.  It was a cool 50 or so degrees at that time and i’m sure the river wasn’t any warmer.  Admittedly, I’m not a fan of cold water in the least.  I was kinda fearing this part because of the cold.  But it was so refreshing.  It woke me and the team up, cooled us down and felt so good to do it all together.

Moral: A good team leader knows how to give their team a reward (or a little R&R) for job(s) well done.

We began our third mission to ruck (hike, move, march, etc) from the river to Charter Oak Park, near downtown Hartford.  Our TL estimated this would take 30 minutes and we got on the move.  within the first two minutes one our team became separated from the group and was “killed”.  Teams always move and work together and loners get picked off.  So now we were carrying 15 water jugs and a person.  Things got tougher.  we rucked back to Colt Park and began moving through it when Cadre called time up.  Our TL, on advice from the group, negotiated an additional 20 minutes, but we also “lost” 4 friends.  So now we are carrying all of the water jugs and four people.  We made it to our goal within this time frame.

Morals: Always be aware of your teammate’s where-bouts and keep together.  Become familiarized with your surroundings in advance of the work.  When the going gets tough, the tough keep going… keep moving forward… “Press hard, there are three copies.”

Upon completion of this task, we were given another 10 minute rest with our ruck’s off.  we hydrated and bit into our snacks.  Then got to have some fun.  Cadre had us all climb the play-scape and slide down the slide.  Yeah, it was fun!

Moral: There is always time to have a moment of fun while you work.

Have you ever heard God’s voice inside your head? It often comes like a whisper. When you hear it, always act on it and do whatever He’s telling you to do.  Even if you don’t want to it. Then, there are times like this… When He YELLS convincingly into your ear and you don’t take a moment to think about what He just told you, you just react.  Cadre called for another volunteer, God yelled at me to step up and I raised my hand and said, “I got it.”  Cadre smiled and said, “Gooooood. I’ve had my eye on you all morning.”

The mission I accepted was to get the team back to Colt Park and find a baseball field.  We negotiated 25 minutes and four “dead bodies” to carry.  I gathered the team together, gave directions to our flag bearers to the way we were going to walk and we got moving.  The Army sergeant carried a guy who should be an offensive lineman in the NFL by himself, it was impressive to say the least.  I did my best to keep morale up, encouraging them to keep moving.  I had to do the same for myself because I was carrying a full water bottle and my grip strength kept failing.  I could feel my fingers peel from the handle with every step until the can fell out of my grip.  This happened many times and I  started to toss it forward as it happened.  The Team was tired and we rested many times.

About half way there, we came to a fork in the road and our flag bearers stopped and called me up front.  Which way to go, left or right?  Thankfully, one of the team members posted a historical article about Colt Park the night before.  I read it and became familiar with the park boundaries.  I also noticed my eyes paying attention to the roads north of the park.  God was on the job, even before he put me on it.  I recognized the right hand road and directed the team to go that way.  About a hundred yards later, our Sergeant hit the wall.  I told him we were going to finish our mission and asked, “what help do you need to get there?”

“I can carry him, if someone can take my sack.  Then I’ll make it.”

I replied, “OK” and looked at my team. They were all fatigued. “I’ll carry you pack, hand it over.”

He looked at me inquisitively.  “It’s 40 lbs, not 20.”  I reached out my hands and waved it over.

He handed it over and danced for joy.  I threw it on my front side, picked up my water jug and moved the team out.  We entered Colt Park and tabbed three people to help me find a field.  There was one a couple hundred yards in front of us.  Cadre called out, “running out of time TL.”  I brought the team together and told them 200 yards and we complete our mission, dig deep and let’s get to victory.”

As they all moved towards the field, I patted them all on the back with a “good job, 100 yards to go; keep moving; I’m proud of you.”   We crossed onto the field and cadre said, get them to home plate TL. Everyone was dropping their gear by now.  “90 FEET TO HOME PLATE!!” I shouted.  “NO REST YET! PICK EVERYTHING UP AND FINISH.  LET’S GO!  LET’S GO!  LET’S GO!”

That’s what’s best about this whole experience… We all did it.  Together.  As a team.  Everyone picked everyone else up.  Everyone stuck together.  No complaints.

Morals: Leaders have a vision.  They encourage their team.  They get their own hands dirty when necessary.  Leaders are a part of the team, not above it.  Leaders have one objective, complete the task, however necessary.

Finally, we got to play a game called Terrorball.  Two teams, racing around the infield, touching the bases.  First leg, crawl; second leg, bear crawl; third leg, crab walk, fourth leg crawl home.  Oh yeah, and the first and last 45 feet from home, was the “kill zone.”  There was an attacker and a defender in each kill zone, one a team mate who was to protect you, the other was an attacker set to prevent you from getting out of the kill zone.  No strikes to the face or below the belt, no joint locks, respect the tap out, no one gets hurt.  Those were the rules.  Everything else was fair game.  And we dumped all the water into the kill zone, so it was all mud.  WHAT A GREAT TIME!  It basically turned into an MMA mud match.

The Moral of Terrorball:  Keep fighting, don’t quit on yourself.  The only way you fail is if you quit.

My vision is for a subluxation-free world.  Empty hospitals, empty jail cells.  People not needing medication because they are filled with love and peace and joy; because people are picking others up, helping them through life and helping to bear each others burdens.  Forgiveness reigns.  Health is the norm, not the exception.  I see people functioning at their fullest potential; 100% capacity and everyone teaming together to make this world a better place to live.  Together, we are more than the sum of our parts.

That’s where we’re going and we’re taking the entire east coast of America with us. We invite you to join us.