My Pre-Kickoff 3 cents - 2007 version

[Rich Kressly]

The 2007 season is all but here, so here is my "For What it's Worth" post for this FRC season...

Most of my more meaningful thoughts on "upcoming FRC seasons" are already found in these two threads:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=40933
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32085

For 2007, I'd like to add just a few things:
1. Inspire, Recognize, Inspire, Recognize, Inspire, Recognize...
(oh yeah, we need to get a robot and award entries done on time, within the rules, and to the best of our ability too). Keep this in balance and you help achieve the mission of FIRST.
2. Whether you (student or adult) play a very small or very large role on the team, quitting on the group in a time of need is not acceptable, even if someone else has hurt your feelings/pride. What kind of reputation do you really want to have?
3. Faith, family, and school/work are all exceptions to #2, depending on circumstances. Try to maintain healthy priorities, even though you'll be short on sleep.
4. Successful participation in FIRST and achieving the FIRST mission have nothing to do with being "right". We all need to get over ourselves, now. The best leaders in this world are the ones who can "let go", especially when they are deeply invested.
5. FIRST is stressful, unfair, and holds higher expectations than any other project you've ever seen. If you don't like that, we'll understand if you want to leave now. If you choose to stay, never whine about these things.
6. Being a FIRST participant won't automatically open any doors for you. It will however present you with many opportunities. As an individual it's up to you to take advantage of those opportunities in the right way.
7. Gracious professionalism and changing the culture ARE really what we are about. We're different on purpose, for a reason. If you're spending your time trying to "bring FIRST toward the more accepted way of thinking" in the culture, you really don't understand most of what Dean and Woodie are saying.
8. Did you work your butt off, try real hard, not win a Chairman's Award (or event or other award), and wind up exhausted and disappointed? That's OK, but if you turn that disappointment into angry thoughts about other teams, judges, refs, the scorers, regional folks, or FIRST staff then you really didn't deserve to win in the FIRST place. Quickly turn that energy into constructive planning for next year before you embarrass yourself in a public way. Every team and person must have INTERNAL motivators/goals that drive them because no one can fully control any award decision or other external motivator.
9. Have fun. Have a great season.

Namaste