The Los Angeles Lakers have won the 2010 NBA Championship and it was not with style, finesse, or individuality. This Championship belong to the entire team who contributed throughout the season while facing opponents that despised them, critics who could not stand the sight of Kobe possibly winning another championship, while Lebron “King” James fans were wishing it was him instead of Kobe fighting for the win. However, more gut went into this season for the current LA Lakers than any other season before this one. This year, the Los Angeles Lakers team that won the Championship in 2009 came of age.
What were the components that contributed to the Lakers winning the 2010 NBA Championship and what can we learn from it? Some would say Kobe was the contributing factor. I will not deny that Kobe was one of the contributors of this Championship win, but it is impossible for him to be the only component to this team. Every player played an important role in ensuring that the NBA Trophy remained in Los Angeles. However, it was not just the players, Phil Jackson and the coaching staff of this great team; it was the intangibles that transcended individual talent. This June 17, 2010 night, a team won; this night cohesiveness won over talent. Neither a coach nor the players, in any sport, can under mind the power of multiple parts merged and welded into one big whole. Individuality is lost in the residual effects of oneness. The uniqueness of the singleness of thought will always win over strength, statistics and talent. A team of five that fights as one is greater than one team of five individuals who simply play as a team.
In additional to cohesiveness, as being one of the components that helped the Lakers to win the NBA Championship, the next overlooked component was tenacity. Talent alone is good, but talent is not enough when your opponent is just as good as your team is on any given night. Talent will not give you the edge to drive and give that extra push to remain focus at a time whenthere is total mayhem. This attribute is not intermingled with talent. Tenacity lurks in the psyche of an individual that causes them to stay with the game plan despite the mental and physical challenges. Imagine Bulldog doggedness persistence to hold on until it decides to let go. These attributes cannot be found on the stat sheet because they are intangibles, but yet visible. When these two components are active with talent, a team playing as one will grind out a win under any circumstances.
How can these two components help you, your business, church, or family confront and overcome the challenges that oppose your success? Can cohesiveness and tenacity be the missing ingredient in business or church? Emphatically yes! When any group or team performs as individuals, you have a recipe for disaster. Screaming and pointing the finger at teammates during a push to win a game will only perpetuate the problems even more. This is why teams with great individuals never succeed as a team. That includes families, churches and friendships.
People that are involved in churches rarely view themselves as a part of a team. The same goes for employees working with coworkers to complete a task or an assignment. If you are employed by a company or a member of a church or a team member of a local softball team, if you see yourself apart from the team, you will never do your part for the team. GO LAKERS!
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