Rule #5: Building A Great Team

Steve Jobs hit the nail on the head when he included Building A Great Team in his 10 Rules For Success.  You just can't do much of anything without a great team around you.  

Building A Great Team is much more than the people currently surrounding you to help meet a goal or get a job done.  When I think of my team it goes back to my mom and dad and how I was raised.  It goes back to all of the teachers I had throughout my life, especially those that left a lasting impression.  It goes back to great employers like Lyman Coleman and Steffani Wilkins who gave me the kind of tools and support that help create a mission.  Lastly, but most importantly, where would I ever be without God leading me through life, nudging me to take risks and trusting Him through the process.

Bill and I are surrounded by great people that have been honest and encouraging over the years.  I am so grateful for David Siek who served alongside us for 14 years and has always been available to help us reach the next goal in ministry.  We have relied on the talents of editors like Diane Krause and a variety of graphic artists and formatters. A huge part of our team is an innovative social media coach, Kim Vanderpoel, who helps us dream and then makes those dreams happen.  Finally there are those on our team that walk in the trenches with us such as my mom, Georgia Stone, and my brothers, David and Mark Stone, that I constantly run ideas through and my daughters who save me when I can't figure out a computer program and continually inspire me to grow.  Lastly, Bill is an important part of the team.  He keeps all the components running by having a "real job," maintaining all of the equipment, and thinking through how it is all going to work.

A great team helps you dream and dream bigger.  A great team redirects you when you are relying on yourself instead of God.  A great team inspires you to step out a little further and will be there to catch you if you fall.  A great team makes every day an adventure.

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, working at Starbucks, running a corporation, or serving in ministry, you have to have a great team.

Once there was a grain of sand that wanted to become a beach, 

an example of where you can't always do it all by yourself. ~Robert Brault