DREAM TEAM

This week on A Conversation of Hope, Brett explores the power of great teamwork and the qualities that help teams thrive at home, at work, and in our communities. Drawing from Jon Gordon’s The Power of a Positive Team, he focuses on trust, communication, shared purpose, accountability, encouragement, and shifting our mindset from “me” to “we.” Brett also shares lessons about protecting your joy, valuing yourself, believing in what’s possible, and recognizing that leadership isn’t about having a title; it’s about the influence we have on the people around us.   This week’s challenge is to take an honest look at the kind of teammate we are in our families, workplaces, and relationships, and make the changes needed to become someone who helps the whole team become better.  

It’s Time to Focus on You Now | Unlock Your Full Potential Today

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motivational-speech/id1642546815?i=1000776212569

Joel Osteen | Don’t Give Away Your Joy

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joel-osteen-podcast/id137254859?i=1000777982103

Jack Canfield | You Do Not Become What You Want, You Become What You Believe

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quote-of-the-day-show-daily-motivational-talks/id1163094296?i=1000768519865

Daily Healthy Lifestyle Checklist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coeDFfQP3wt1DX-nRvIi4Q0W9IJSB8Mr/view?usp=drivesdk

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:43

It's grateful you're here and promises to give us all each week to help you create the life you are meant to live. Let's get started.

SPEAKER_01 0:55

Welcome, welcome, welcome to a conversation of hope. I am so glad that you took your valuable time to tune in this week. Right from the start, I want to remind you, you are enough. You have what it takes. You're a champion whose absolute best days are straight ahead. Before we dig into the heart of this week's podcast, I wanted to ask you, are you taking time to relax, refresh, and recharge? If not, please, please allow yourself just to unplug at times. For me, I love laying in the hammock. It's priceless. Just to relax, unplug, lay in the hammock, and think about nothing, no phones, no music, no nothing, and just relax. You're only at your best when you recharge your batteries. Also, I'm curious, how is your joy gaps going? Remember, a joy gap is just something special planned out that you can look forward to. Maybe it's a special coffee in the morning or a treat at lunch. For me, I just finished a day with my daughter at the air show. It was both of our first time at the air show, seeing all the different planes and watching them do amazing tricks in the sky. It's something we look forward to for months. Make sure you have some joy gaps booked in your future. It truly makes for a happier life now when you have something to look forward to in the future. All right, y'all. This week we are talking about the power of great teamwork. Whether that is great teamwork at home or at the office or maybe in your business. John Gordon is great at helping organizations and sports teams build amazing teams and team culture. John wrote a book called The Power of a Great Team. I am excited to recap the book for you and I, as I had a ton of great nuggets. It has tons of good stuff in it. We can all apply today, regardless of what we do for a living. These principles can glean throughout all areas of our lives. All right, y'all, let's get right into it. It really is good stuff. I think John Gordon's written over 32 books, I believe. His famous book was Energy Bus, but definitely pick up a copy of this one. It's worth it. Alright, here we go. Have you ever been part of a team where everything just seemed to click? People trusted one another. Everyone knew their role. People encouraged each other. When someone struggled, others stepped in. And when the team succeeded, nobody cared who got all the credit. That is the power of a great team. John Gordon has spent much of his career studying what makes teams successful. And one of the biggest lessons from his work is this. Great teams don't happen by accident. They are built intentionally. You can have incredibly talented individuals and still have a terrible team. Or you can have ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things because they learn how to work together. Think about that. The greatest teams in sports, business, families, churches, and communities aren't great simply because they have talented people. They're great because they have trust, connection, commitment, communication, accountability, and a shared purpose. Powerful everybody. And one of the most important principles is this the strength of the team is greater than the talent of any individual. Great teams put the team first. One of the biggest obstacles to building a great team is the word me. Me versus we. My success, my recognition, my promotion, my numbers, my ideas or my credit. But great teams shift the focus from me to we. That's us, y'all. Instead of asking, what can the team do for me? They ask, what can I do for the team? Imagine a football team where every player is trying to become the star. The quarterback wants all the attention. The receivers want more catches. The running back wants more carries. The defense wants recognition. The coaches want the credit. And that team probably won't go very far. And when everyone understands that their job is to make the team better, something changes. The quarterback celebrates the offensive line. The receiver blocks for the running back. The defensive star encourages the rookie. The coach gives credit to the players. And suddenly the team becomes bigger than any individual. That's a lesson we can use everywhere. At work, don't just ask yourself how you can succeed. Ask, how can I help someone else succeed? At home, don't just ask, what am I going to get? Ask what can I contribute? And because when everyone contributes, everyone benefits. Always remember, trust is the foundation, y'all. You cannot build a great team without trust. Think about a bridge. You can make it beautiful, you can paint it, decorate it, but if the foundation isn't strong, eventually that bridge fails. Trust is the foundation of teamwork. When people trust each other, they communicate better. They take risks, they admit mistakes, they ask for help. They give honest feedback. They don't have to waste energy protecting themselves. And that's incredibly important. Because when trust is missing, people start playing defense. They wonder, can I trust this person? Will they blame me? Will they take credit for my idea? Will they talk about me behind my back? But when trust is present, people can focus on the mission. Here's a simple challenge. Become someone other people can trust. Do what you say you're gonna do. Keep your commitments, tell the truth, give people credit, show up when people need you. And most importantly, treat people with respect. Trust isn't built in one giant moment. It's built through hundreds of small moments. Communication can make or break a team. So true, so true. Great teams communicate well. But communication isn't just talking. It's listening, it's answering questions, it's making sure people understand. It's addressing problems before they become bigger problems. And it's encouraging people. Think about how powerful one sentence can be. I've got your back. Or we're gonna get through this together. Or I believe in you. Those words can completely change somebody's day. On the other hand, negative communication can destroy a team. Constant criticism, gossip, sarcasm, blame, complaining, negative assumptions, all of these things create division. That's why John emphasizes the importance of positive energy. A great team doesn't pretend problems don't exist. It simply refuses to allow problems to become the team's identity. There's a difference. You can say we have a problem without saying we are a failure. The first statement identifies a challenge. The second creates an identity. Great teams focus on solving problems rather than blaming people. Every team needs a shared purpose. Purpose is huge, everybody. People need to know why they are doing what they're doing. A paycheck may bring someone to work, but purpose can inspire them to give their best. Great teams understand why do we exist? What are we trying to accomplish? Who are we trying to help? What difference are we trying to make? When people connect their daily work to something meaningful, their energy changes. Think about a hospital team. They're not simply processing paperwork, taking temperatures, cleaning rooms or administering medicine. They're helping people heal. Think about a teacher. They're not simply teaching math or history, they're helping shape people's future. Think about a restaurant employee. They're not simply taking orders, they're creating an experience for another human being. When people understand the bigger purpose, ordinary tasks become meaningful. So ask your team, what are we working towards together? Then remind them again and again because people forget. Great leaders continually reconnect people to the mission. Great teams create positive energy. Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt the positive energy? You can feel it. And you've probably experienced the opposite too. You walk into a room and immediately you think something's wrong. Every person brings energy to a team. The question is, what kind of energy are you bringing? Are you bringing encouragement, optimism, hope? Solutions? Or are you bringing complaining, negativity, trauma, or fear? Nobody is positive every minute of the day. That's not realistic. Great teams still have difficult days, they still experience disappointment, and they still lose at times. But they don't allow one bad moment to become a permanent mindset. They learn to reset, they encourage each other, they focus on what they can control, and they move forward. That's leadership. Everyone has a role. One of the beautiful things about a team is that every role matters. It's true, y'all. Not everyone needs to be the star. In fact, great teams understand that the supporting roles can be just as important as the headline roles. Think about a championship team. The person who plays 30 minutes gets attention. But what about the person who practices every day and pushes the starter? What about the trainer or the equipment manager, the assistant coach, the person who steadies film, the person who encourages everyone in the locker room. They may never appear on the scoreboard, but they're part of every victory. So true. The same is true in life. Never underestimate your contribution. You don't have to be the most important person in the room. You simply need to be faithful to your role. And great leaders make sure people understand that their contribution matters, no matter the role. Great teams hold each other accountable. Accountability is another critical ingredient. Accountability isn't about punishment. It's about caring enough to help someone become better. It's powerful, everybody. If I care about you, I'll encourage you. But I'll also challenge you. I'll tell you the truth. I'll say you can do better. I know you're capable of more. Let's fix this. Great teams don't allow poor behavior to continue simply because confronting it is uncomfortable. They address problems. They have difficult conversations. They don't sacrifice the entire team to protect one person's feelings. But accountability must come with respect. The goal isn't how can I prove you wrong? The goal is how can we make this better? That's a completely different mindset. Celebrate one another, everyone. One of the simplest ways to build a great team is to celebrate people. I so strongly believe in that with my team. Celebrate the progress, the effort, the victories, the milestones. Celebrate someone who helped another person and don't wait for something huge. Sometimes the smallest recognition means the most. Imagine someone having a difficult week. You walk up to them and you say, Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate what you bring to this team. You may have just changed their entire week with one statement. People want to feel valued. They want to know that their work matters. They want to know they're appreciated. Because teams don't take people for granted. They recognize them. A powerful story for everyone. Imagine a rowing team preparing for a major race. Eight athletes are sitting in the boat. Each one of them is strong. Each one of them is talented. But imagine if every person rose according to their own rhythm. One rose faster, one rose slower. One isn't paying attention, one is looking backwards. Even though every individual may be talented, the boat isn't moving efficiently. Now imagine they synchronize. Same rhythm, same direction, same purpose. Everyone pulls together. Suddenly the boat moves faster and faster. That's teamwork. It's not about everyone doing the same job, it's about everyone moving towards the same destination. And that's what John's message is really about. Your team starts with you. Here's perhaps the biggest takeaway for you and for me. If you want a better team, start with yourself. Don't wait for someone else to become positive. You become positive. Don't wait for someone else to communicate better. You communicate better. And don't wait for somebody else to encourage people. You encourage people. Don't wait for someone else to build trust. You become trustworthy. Don't wait for someone else to bring the energy. You bring the energy. Leadership isn't always about having a title. You don't need to be the CEO, the coach, the boss. You can lead from wherever you are. That is so true, everybody. So powerful. Any position you're in, wherever you're at in your organization or at home, whatever it is, you can lead from wherever you are. Because leadership is influence. And every day you influence somebody. All right, here's five things that you and I can do today to build a great team or a better team. So let's make this practical. Here are five things. Number one, encourage someone. Find one person and sincerely tell them, I appreciate you. Be specific. Tell them why. Number two, give someone credit. If someone helped you succeed, acknowledge them. Don't steal the spotlight. Share it. Number three, fix one relationship. If there's tension between you and someone, take the first step. Make the call. Have the conversation. Choose peace over pride. I've never seen that statement in my life, y'all. When I read it the first time, I thought, man, is that powerful for me specifically? Choose peace over pride. That is so cool. All right, number four, bring positive energy. Walk into your workplace, your home, your church, or community with the attitude of, I'm here to make things better. Be the person who lifts the room. And number five, ask one powerful question. Ask someone, how can I help you? Then listen to the answer. You might be amazed at what happens. All right, let's wrap it up. The power of a great team isn't simply that a group of people can accomplish more. It's that people become more when they are part of something greater than themselves. Ah, I love that. A great team gives people confidence. A great team gives people belonging. A great team gives people purpose. And a great team helps people discover that they are capable of more than they could ever accomplish alone. So look around your life. Who are the people on your team? Your family? Friends? Coworkers? Employees? Church family, community, circle of influence, and ask yourself, am I making my team better? Because every day you have a choice. You can take energy from the team or you can give energy to the team. You can criticize or you can encourage. You can compete or you can collaborate. You can seek credit or you can give credit. You can focus on yourself or serve others. And here's the beautiful thing. When you help the team win, you win too. The greatest teams aren't built by perfect people. They're built by people who are committed to one another. People who say, I believe in you. I've got your back. Let's get better together. We're in this together. And maybe that's the message all of us need to hear today. You don't have to do everything alone. You don't have to carry everything alone. Find your people, build trust, give encouragement, serve one another, stay positive, hold each other accountable, celebrate each other's victories. That's what we do in this community. And enjoy being a part of a great team. All right, y'all. Boy, that was good. Oh my goodness. What great information we can all apply to better our lives, whether it's being a better team player or leading a more successful team. It was great. Remember, pick up a copy of John Gordon's book. He's got a lot of books. Like I said, I think he has over 32 out there. Every single one of them is good and it's worth picking up. All right, time for our jokes of the week. Buckle up. Why did the suitcase go to therapy? It had too much baggage. What do you call a cat? Lily. I like you, love listening to podcasts. I want to grow. I want to get better. I want to be better and better every day for everyone in my life. And so I take the ones that I think are the best of the best, cream of the crop, and I want to make sure that I share it with you all so you can get this great information. Number one up was it's time to focus and value yourself. Unlock your true potential. So many people spend their lives distracted by what other people are doing. We compare our progress to someone else's. We worry about what people think. We allow criticism, rejection, mistakes, and our past to determine how we see ourselves. But here's the truth: you don't have to be who you were yesterday. One of the greatest challenges today is distraction. There are so many voices, opinions, notifications, problems, and demands competing for our attention. And what gets our attention gets our energy. If you constantly focus on what went wrong, you'll miss out on what is going right. Ask yourself what really matters to me? Valuing yourself does not mean that you think you're better than anyone else. It means recognizing that you matter. Make sure you're a person who says, I believe in me. Protect your focus. Not everyone deserves access to your time, your energy, and your attention. You have to learn to say no to things that pull you away from your purpose. Don't wait until you feel completely ready. Your potential is not unlocked by thinking about what you could do, it's unlocked by doing it. So today, focus on what matters most. Value who you are. Stop allowing your past to control your future. Protect your energy and take action. Because there is so much more in you. There are still magnificent dreams in you. There are still great goals to be accomplished. And there are still people who need your encouraging. Value yourself. Focus your energy and take action. Great one, as you know, link to the entire full podcast episode is in our show notes for your convenience. Thanks to my wife who is the executive producer and does an amazing job. Alright, number two. Don't give away your joy by Joel Osteen. Have you ever had a great day going and then something small happens that completely changes your mood? Don't let someone else's behavior, a difficult circumstance, or a temporary problem take away the joy that you have today. Joel points out life is always going to give us opportunities to become frustrated. We can't eliminate every interruption or inconvenience, every rude person, delay or disappointment, but we can choose how we respond. That's where the power is. Think about how often we give away our joy to things that we look back on that just didn't really matter. We can't find our keys, we get stuck in traffic, someone does not return our call, a coworker says something we do not like. None of those things have to determine if we have a good day or not. The circumstances may be real, but our response is still our choice. One of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves is Is this really worth giving up my joy over? That's a question we should start asking ourselves every day. Before we allow frustration to take over, pause and ask, is this worth five minutes of my peace? Is this worth ruining my afternoon? Is this worth taking my frustration home to my family? Is this worth allowing someone else's attitude to control my attitude? Most of the time, the answer is no. So today, make a firm decision. I'm not giving away my joy anymore. I am going to choose peace. I am going to choose gratitude, and I'm going to choose patience. I'm going to keep the right perspective, and I'm going to stay calm and cool and steady when things don't go my way. That does not mean problems don't exist. It means problems don't get to control who we are. We are in the driver's seat on that, y'all. Link to the full podcast episode in the show notes, as always. And number three, Jack Canfield. You don't become what you want to become. You become what you believe. Believe to achieve. Have you ever wanted something really badly, but deep down you weren't sure you could actually have it? Maybe you wanted to become healthier, more successful, more confident, financially free, or to finally pursue a dream you have been carrying for years. You wanted it, thought about it, and talked about it, but somewhere inside there was a little voice saying, That's probably not possible for me. You don't become what you want, you become what you believe. Because what you believe influences what you expect, what you attempt, and how you respond to the setbacks and ultimately what you repeatedly do. One of the fundamental steps towards achieving a goal is first believing that the goal is possible. Your beliefs create your boundaries. Think about the person who says, I would love to start a business, but I can never do that. Or I'd love to get into shape, but I've never been disciplined. The problem isn't necessarily the dream The problem is the belief standing between the person and the dream. We can put limits on ourselves long before anybody else does. You don't have to know exactly how you'll accomplish your dreams before you begin. You first have to become willing just to believe that it's possible. A strong belief gives you courage to take action. Don't just think about what you want to accomplish. Picture yourself living it. Close your eyes and imagine. What would your life look like when you become the person capable of achieving your goal? How do you wake up every morning when you're that person? How do you carry yourself? How do you treat people? What habits do you have? What are you no longer doing? What conversations are you having? And what choices are you making? Because the goal isn't simply to get something, the goal is to become someone. Become the person that will create and appreciate that amazing life that you deserve. Hi y'all. It's time for our challenge of the week. This week, let's you and I think about what kind of team player are we on all the teams that we play on. Whether it's with the family, at work, business, are we being a great team player to all around us? Are we only focused on us? Let's make any changes that we need to make so that we can become an ultimate team player to everyone in our lives. Once again, I want to remind you that you are enough and you have what it takes. Your absolute best days are straight ahead. You are a champion. In this community, like my dad would always say, you are loved and appreciated. Always better, never backwards. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever stop dreaming and believing big for you and your great family. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part of our great community as we roll to one million. Have an epic day. A magnificent weekend. God bless.

SPEAKER_00 28:42

If you listen to it, I'm gonna be a little bit more.