My Needs or Team Needs?

We come into this world as helpless babies that are focused solely on our own needs. It is about what we want and when we want it. Any parent that has been woken up in the middle of the night by a screaming baby understands what I'm talking about. But as we grow up, parents and others teach us that we need to be nice to one another, help one another. Maybe we play a sport, sing in a choir, belong to a club, some sort of activity where you are a part of a team, you need to work together to achieve something.

I believe that we try, and we teach each other and kids to think about others, but there is something inside each of us, the all too human side we all have, that is only worried about yourself. Everyone has things that they want for themselves, and that is okay. It is a natural part of being human. We were made in this way so we should accept it, without becoming selfish. You can want a promotion, a different job, a new car, a better boss, more vacations, better hours. I think this is where we all start, "What is it that I want and need?" The key is not to stop there. Once you've defined what you want the question needs to be, "What does the team need?" The things that align between yourself and the team is a sweet spot for you, go after them. It is okay to be selfish and want things, just make sure you put the team before self.