The Stereotyping of Successful Teams

[OZ_341]

Team 341 was recently stereotyped in another CD thread and we have been quietly disrespected like this for about 5 years now. So, I feel the need to speak out. But I promise this post has a positive outlook.

In 2005 our team became frustrated with losing on the playing field and funds were very low. At that point we had a choice to make. We could either, blame other teams and complain about all of the resources that the “elite” teams have or we could decide to work our tails off. We chose to be positive and just try really, really hard to improve.

Unfortunately some teams in the previously mentioned thread have not made that choice, as yet. While I can certainly understand the frustration that comes with competition, using another team as a punching bag really disturbs me deeply. I am upset mostly because teams, that don’t know anything about Miss Daisy’s history, make assumptions based on stereotypes. FIRST stereotypes are dangerous and are usually developed out of a need to target a source for built up frustrations.

I am not replying in an attempt to embarrass or attack anyone, so please do not take this personally. I just want to set a few things straight about the so-called “Elite” Miss Daisy. My hope is that maybe in understanding our team, you may look at other successful teams differently. I am sure that we also know very little about the inner workings of other teams.

Stereotype #1: “Miss Daisy is Rich”
I am the founder of our team and for the last 11 years, the team has basically run on my credit card, which gets frantically paid off in May with sponsor funds and fundraising. Many years we finish the season with almost zero left in our account. One year I was $5,000 in debt until July. I probably lose about 1 to 2 thousand dollars of my family’s personal money every year. Yes we have very kind and generous sponsors, but we are not what you think we are. Every year we start with almost nothing and fundraise like crazy. I won’t insult your intelligence by saying we are poor, but we are certainly not the rich team that you imagine.

Stereotype #2: “Miss Daisy has an unlimited machine shop”
No. We have a very small lathe, a small mill, and a cut-off saw. That is it. The vast majority of our robot each year (over 95%) is designed and built by our students in a high school woodshop with rickety tables. We succeed by using our resources wisely and knowing our limitations. We have mostly won by choosing very effective strategies and not by having the best machine on the field. In 2012, we built our best machine ever. Some visitors to our pit were visibly disappointed to find that our machine was a pile of extruded aluminum and urethane belting, just cleverly arranged and programmed.

Stereotype #3: “Miss Daisy is designed by Corporate Engineers”
We do not have any outside engineers that come to us directly from our sponsors. Every Engineer, CAD mentor, or Media coach on Miss Daisy is a former FIRST/341 student, a friend of a student, a team parent, or a teacher. We do not have a single engineer or professional on our team that is not in that category. Our fantastic engineering design mentorship comes from our former team members and their friends. We are an absolutely home-grown organization.

Stereotype #4 : “Miss Daisy always wins everything”
We had an anomaly in 2003 where we made it to Einstein. It was an amazing experience.
Do you know when we won our very first regional? The answer: 2007
That’s right. It only took us 7 years to figure out how to be a consistent winner. Before that we had never even been in the finals at any regional and had only made it to the semi-finals twice. Yes we win quite often now and I am very proud of our performance over the last 7 years. But it was due to the dedication and sacrifice of many students, just like any other team.

Summary:
In 2005 we made it a stated objective of our team to strive for sustained excellence both on and off the field, while maintaining all of the GP standards that we so deeply believe in. We collected resources, paid closer attention to winning team models, adopted a philosophy of continuous improvement, and always, above all else, treated other teams with the respect they deserve. We helped teams in need and looked up to “Elite” programs with admiration. We still do this.

Every team in FIRST can make this choice. Be positive, help others, and work like a maniac behind the scenes. This approach will bring you joy and satisfaction, whether you win or not. Attacking or mocking other teams will only lead to more frustration. I hope this explains who we are.
I am also hopeful that this post will make teams think twice before stereotyping another team. Instead, I strongly urge everyone to spend their energy learning from successful teams. Learning and striving creates positive energy.

As always, Miss Daisy wishes everyone a great off-season.

[Joe195]

Well said!

[joelg236]

You're an inspiration to all of the teams who aspire to rise above their opponents instead of bringing them down. I hope our team can one day become everything you guys are.

Ignore the "haters", they haven't taken a second look at what you guys have done.

[CalTran]

"You cannot give Reputation to the same post twice."
This is every single reason and more about Miss Daisy being a Hall of Fame team.

(Small side note: Mr. Ostrow, why does your team alias say "Wissahickon"? I've always wondered...)

[dcarr]

This is a very inspiring post, thank you for sharing some of the magic that makes your team tick, by showing that it isn't really magic at all, but hard work and dedication. In addition, every single person on your team that I talked to in Vegas was unbelievably passionate and kind. For the past couple of years, when working on our Chairman's submissions, Miss Daisy's has always been one we turn to for inspiration. Having 341 on our alliance in Vegas this year was the highlight of our season. How awesome that our first pick ever was Miss Daisy!

[Akash Rastogi]

As a former mentor for 3929, I just want to add that 341 is one of those teams that goes out of their way to help someone else out. Their mentors have loaned us robots, given us code, and have even taken time out to come to our outreach events just to play with the robot and to talk to our kids. They have shared strategy, design ideas, and have always provided a source of inspiration for non-technical awards as well.

I have never ever experienced a more humble team that has so much success both on and off the field.

Anyone who doesn't know 341, please don't talk. Maybe you should just listen to what they have to say about their team.

Al & company: Thanks a ton for what you do for teams in the Philly area and in the world. You are THE local inspiration for 3929 and are our standard of excellence in terms of sponsorships and robot quality.

Thanks for this thread.

[Kyle A]

Very well said! Your team has been an inspiration to CRT 306 since I started the team in 2004! We have competed together many times throughout the years at many different competitions! It has been an Honor being able to come to your school every year and participate In your off season event. This year for the first time I was able to check out your shop, and see everything you have stated. Thank you for all your team has done and I look forward to working together more in the future.

[1018sophmore]

Teams like you inspire a team like mine to strive to be better both building a robot and with our outreach to our community, so just remember for every person who stereotypes teams like you your inspiring about 100 other people to be better
My two cents

[mschwab013]

This is very inspiring! Team 291 has always looked up to Miss Daisy as an elite team over the years. Thank you for sharing some more about how you have come about your success. I am definitely going to show this to my team and get them inspired knowing that someone as good as Miss Daisy is in a very similar situation every year

[connor.worley]

When I stopped by 341's pit to trade T-Shirts, one of their drive team members was talking to another team about 341's CAD program and how the other team could get started in CAD. 341's CAD program is completely home-grown and shows a huge initiative for the team to educate themselves and others. It also shows a drive to make the best robots possible. I don't see why anyone wouldn't want 341 to do well. 341 deserves to be doing well.

[dag0620]

I and many other members of my team have always looked up to 341 as an inspiration, and the type of team we strive to be. They are such a role-model team, and this post proves that point again.

Well said Mr. Ostrow.

[Steven Donow]

Teams like you are always among the many teams (particularly in MAR) in which I always reference saying, "They have nothing that we don't, why can't we be more like them?". Teams with modest backgrounds like Daisy truly are an inspiration to all of FIRST.

[ttldomination]

From a growing team, let me ask you a question.

What is your biggest component to maintaining sustained excellence?

As a veteran in FIRST, I believe the continued success of the team is in the hands of mentors. This belief has served me well, and has only grown over the years.

However, I'm on a team that is very dynamic. A good chunk of our mentor base is college-level; a chunk that stands to grow in the coming years. With such a "volatile" mentor core, I'm wondering what factors other teams use to make sure they maintain a level of success for years to come?

- Sunny G.

[Oblarg]

Having recently had an exchange with a team 341 mentor myself in the thread in question (in which the original disagreement turned out to be almost entirely miscommunication), I'd like to mention that every experience I've had with members and mentors from 341 has ultimately been a very positive one. I wish your team the best, and hope there are no future misunderstandings.

[PVCpirate]

This gives me way more respect for Miss Daisy than before, because I fell into the trap of assumptions. I always respected you as one of the greats since I first heard of 341 when you won the CCA, but I did assume about the money and machine shop and stuff. The fact that you have been so successful is made so much more impressive now that I know the truth. I was at Boston last year, and the quality of that bot absolutely blew me away, and you totally deserved the 1 seed and win. I hope you and your team keep doing what you do, regardless of what anyone says.