Life Lessons from Pyramids and Geese …
Oct 01, 2015 01:11PM ● By By Annette Briggs (Publisher)
When I think about the concept of teamwork, this month’s editorial theme, the words of the late, great Andrew Carnegie come to mind: “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. It is the ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
Whether in marriage, the workplace, in government or in society as a whole, the concept of teamwork is vitally important if ever a “common vision” and “uncommon results” are to be achieved. They are, sadly, being driven into extinction by a steady and ever-emerging diet of divisive ideologies and self-centered attitudes at a time in our world when unity and teamwork are needed like never before. We can learn life lessons from history and from our local habitat.
As one of the original Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza stands in Egypt today as testament to an amazing feat of human ingenuity, skill and, most of all, teamwork that still baffles the modern engineering community today. Created around 2,650 BC, the pyramid was constructed by an estimated 100,000 workers over a span of more than 20 years. The pyramid was originally 481 feet high with sides of 760 feet and composed of 2 million, 1.5 ton blocks of limestone, carried more than 500 miles. Faced with this almost impossible task and with very little to work with, teamwork and unity became the indispensible keys to the workers’ success—without them meant failure and almost certain death.
I love our beautiful state and its wildlife. According to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina is home to three distinct populations of Canada geese at various times of the year. Two groups of migratory geese are found here inWhat amazing examples of teamwork and unity as defined by Carnegie. We need to see more of this in humanity today. As a South Carolinian, I am so proud of how we, as state citizens, have come together in almost a V formation in the face of recent and very dark moments in our history. We, too, have accomplished something most would consider impossible. We have stood together before a world watching and continue to do so today committed to the principles of teamwork, which have brought us through these very trying times, producing an uncommon and rare result: love, forgiveness and hope to live on—together! Standing with you,he fall and winter in addition to resident geese that remain year-round, with the largest concentration of geese at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, near Summerton. The state’s resident population is in excess of 50,000 birds and increasing. Geese are amazing creatures, and one can learn much about teamwork and unity by observing the way they migrate.
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates “uplift” for the birds that follow in a “V” formation, adding 71 percent more lift beneficial to all. When a goose falls out of formation, it will begin to feel the drag and resistance of flying alone. In response, it will quickly move back into formation where the benefit of uplift exists. When a goose tires of flying up front, it will drop back and allow another goose to take the point position. And amazingly, if a goose gets sick, two geese will drop out of formation and follow it to the ground to help and protect it.
What amazing examples of teamwork and unity as defined by Carnegie. We need to see more of this in humanity today. As a South Carolinian, I am so proud of how we, as state citizens, have come together in almost a V formation in the face of recent and very dark moments in our history. We, too, have accomplished something most would consider impossible. We have stood together before a world watching and continue to do so today committed to the principles of teamwork, which have brought us through these very trying times, producing an uncommon and rare result: love, forgiveness and hope to live on—together!
Standing with you,
