Not Your Ordinary Team

Businesses are, in a way, like families.

It used to be that a family was thought of as Mom and Dad, plus two or three kids - and maybe a dog. Today a family can be a Mom, a Dad, a step mom or step dad, half brothers, step sisters, or some combination of all of the above.

The problem with mourning the loss of the traditional family is that we miss the love and relationship of the family that is.

I used to work for a corporation. I had a team. It was a “lock step” team. I had a group of managers who reported to me, and they had their managers, supervisors and staff. We all worked well together.

It was a dream team.

We were all unified around our vision and mission. Each had the other’s back. We were in it together, working full steam.

Then I became an entrepreneur.

I opened my own business and never looked back. I had a new vision, a new mission.

Except, as a solopreneur, I didn’t have a team. I missed that. I missed getting others excited about what we were doing and where we were going.

I missed the celebration of our victories together, and the comfort of people who understood when things didn’t go as planned.

I wanted my traditional family back.

Until I realized - I do have a team. It may not look like the typical corporate team, with the eight employees per manager, job descriptions and a succession plan. But I have half-team members and step-coworkers. I have a marketing guy in Boston who really cares about my business. I have clients who need my motivation, who want to work side by side with me.

I have friends and family who want me to do well. They pray for my business, and for me. I have readers who give feedback and join the conversation and help me navigate the intersections of work and life, helping me to support others.

I finally realized that in my focus to have a "traditional" team, I was isolating myself. God was bringing people into my circle, but I was limiting those who I considered true team members.

As I left work today, I replayed the day while driving home. There were several people encouraging me, providing input, praying with me, asking for prayer, calling with questions and asking if we were on track.

These people - all of them - they are my family.

They are my team.

Together we will live and love and accomplish for God's glory.

Image by Roberto La Forgia. Used with permission. Sourced via Flickr. Post by Sue Miley.