Learning What a Team Really Means

My first real experience with teams came at West Point. You learn quickly that no one succeeds alone. Every mission, every drill, every competition is built on trust. I had the privilege of serving as captain of a Sandhurst Team, where we pushed ourselves through grueling challenges. What stood out most was not who was the strongest or the fastest but who was willing to support the person next to them.

That sense of shared struggle followed by shared success is the foundation of every strong team. It does not matter if the setting is military, business, or sports. The pattern is always the same.

Teams are Built in the Struggle

Most people want to skip straight to success. They want to enjoy the celebration without enduring the grind. But real teams are built in the struggle. It is when you are tired, when the outcome looks uncertain, that you see what people are made of.

In the military, that might mean carrying extra weight for a teammate who is falling behind. In business, it might mean staying late to meet a deadline when no one else is watching. In running, it could be encouraging someone to finish a long race when they feel like quitting.

The shared struggle creates bonds that nothing else can. Those bonds lead to mutual respect. And mutual respect is what holds teams together long after the challenge has passed.

Mutual Success Creates Momentum

When a team goes through struggle together and then comes out on the other side with a win, the feeling is powerful. That success does not just belong to one person. It belongs to everyone. And because everyone had a hand in it, the respect deepens and the trust grows stronger.

At Run Specialty Group, we built stores across the country by leaning on each other. Every location had its own challenges, but each win reinforced the belief that we could take on the next challenge. The momentum we built as a team carried us far beyond what any of us could have achieved alone.

Running Teaches Community

Running has always been my lifetime sport. I may not be elite, but I love the way it brings people together. When you show up to a group run, everyone is there with a common purpose. The fast runners and the casual joggers all share the same road. There is encouragement, laughter, and sometimes a little friendly competition.

What makes running communities special is that no one runs for someone else’s medal. Each person is chasing their own goal, but they are doing it alongside others. That blend of individual pursuit and group support is exactly what strong business teams need.

Structure Supports the Human Side

Some people think structure and systems are cold. To me, structure is what makes the human side shine. When a team knows the plan, when roles are clear, and when goals are understood, people are free to focus on giving their best.

At RNK Running, our structure gave us the ability to invest in the community. We could sponsor high school track teams, host events, and serve local families because the business foundation was solid. Without that structure, our good intentions would have fallen apart.

Lessons from Business Teams

Over the years I have led teams in education, retail, construction, and nonprofit organizations. The industries are different, but the lessons are the same.

• Vision matters. People need to know why they are doing the work.
  
• Communication matters. Misunderstandings destroy trust faster than anything else.
  
• Respect matters. Leaders earn respect by being willing to shoulder the same load as everyone else.
  

When these elements are in place, teams thrive. When they are missing, even talented groups fall apart.

Respect is the Glue

I often say that teams are built through mutual struggle, bound together by mutual respect, and propelled by mutual success. Respect is the glue that holds everything together. It grows when leaders show humility, when teammates cover for each other, and when credit is shared freely.

Respect cannot be demanded. It must be earned every day. And once it is in place, it gives teams the resilience to face whatever comes their way.

Carrying the Lessons Forward

Whether I am running with friends, working with a business client through JB Services, or volunteering in the community, I try to carry these lessons forward. The details change, but the principles do not. Struggle builds bonds. Success builds momentum. Respect holds it all together.

When I look back at the best teams I have been part of, they were never the ones with the biggest budget or the fanciest resources. They were the ones where people cared for one another, trusted one another, and believed in the mission.

That is the kind of team I want to keep building and supporting for the rest of my life.