Duplication of programs as it relates to Chairman's

[Rich Kressly]

The best engineering solutions in this world frequently come about from improving upon an exisiting design. The whole point of changing the culture for the better depends upon an ever growing number of folks working together for a common good without worrying who gets credit for it.

Is it fair that one team wins an award and another team doesn't? No, it's not. So what? Get over it, fast.

The effort to win the CA is the important thing, the few teams that get to celebrate as "winners" are hard-working, fortunate examples of that collective effort.

Billfred and I agree on most things, but I don't think the whole "redateam/blueateam" thing works in this instance. In fact, that feeling of "getting credit" and "I want to win because my team deserves it" might be cultural givens in our society, but I'd challenge everyone to just entertain the idea that those thoughts (and we ALL have them) might be something we need to recognize as potentially harmful if they get out of control.

Also, let's not forget, that "copying" comes with its own set of challenges and problems. In many cases my new school and community (Team 1712) is very different than my old school and community (Team 103), thus how we go about spreading the FIRST meesage and changing the culture in positive ways is also very different. Did I bring "ideas" wih me from 103? Sure did. Do we employ those thoughts and ideas the same way with 1712? No way, it just wouldn't work here.

In any event the "effort to win" being more important than the "actual win" is not a new concept at all. Just look at the words of Vince Lombardi, Winston Churchill, Woodie Flowers, and many other great minds.

Namaste,