Play Your Position! (Updated & Revised)

I wrote "Play Your Position" a few years ago, while I was in the midst of an annual purge, where I server ties with those who aren't bringing positive energy to my cipher. Looking back, I realized I came a long way from where I was as an adolescent. At the same time, I know I still have a ways to go, and that I'll forever be on the path to becoming better than I was yesterday. It's a journey that doesn't end until our bodies go beneath the earth. From time to time, we have to reflect on the steps we took to get to where we are now, no matter how excruciating the process might be. We won't be proud of some of our past actions, but we gotta own up to them. It's from those transgressions, we're able to grow as humans and become who we are today. I can honestly say that I'm not the same person I was when I first wrote this. However, I can say that my belief in being an asset that can help others as well as help myself has never wavered. If you know me personally, you know that I'm as selfless a person you'll come across. Yes I'm tooting my own horn (who else is gonna do it?). I'm always looking for ways to make myself & those around me better. I take tremendous pride in this. It will forever remain a huge part of my personal philosophy and I advocate the concept of teamwork every single day while I put it in action. 

Play Your Position!

Be A Team Player!

Everybody wants to be The Star.

Everyone wants to be the Top Shotta.

Everybody wants to be in The Limelight.

What separates mediocrity from greatness is the mindset of the people who want to obtain such status. Do they want to earn the title or do they want the accolades to be given to them without putting in the work? Why do most people feel as if they’re entitled to positions in which they haven’t gained the right, respect or experience to hold? They’ll tell you that they deserve it. And some will have the nerve to say it with a straight face. Instant gratification has become the main force behind most people’s ambitions in life. If it doesn't happen in the next instant, the EXACT way they want it to, they're looking for the fastest exit possible. Oh, and let them actually experience being in a position of leadership. Those responsibilities can overwhelm a person & put many things to the test, including the character, integrity, guile, and decision-making abilities of the individual who’s supposedly calling the shots. It’s a different story when you have to be accountable to constituents who are dependent on the choices you make. That’s the part about being a boss that we don’t talk about enough. Being it isn't as glamorous as the title & the posturing on the frontlines for the cameras that distracts us from the fact that everyone isn't built for that role. This is ok. Really, it is. You ain't gotta be the leader to make an impact.  By understanding this, you’re already on the path to being a dependable team player.

In this world, you can only get so far by yourself. There will come a time when you need a helping hand. Believe it or not, it happens often. That assist at the right time or that block you need to get to the end zone makes a difference in the long run. You think Michael Jordan won those 6 rings by himself? He had players around him who understood their roles & put individual accolades aside for the sake of the team. You can say the same for just about everyone who has had any measure of success in their lives, sports or otherwise. They’ll be the first to tell you that they didn't get there on their own. If they're not gracious enough to shout out the folks who helped them, those who are hip to situations know better. They had a support system that held them down thru thick & thin, pushed them to improve the abilities they were trying to perfect & did the duty of giving out constructive criticism when it was necessary. For that matter, taking credit without acknowledging those who played a part, exposes where an individual's character stand.

I go by the mantra of team first. The abilities that the universe gave me can be used to achieve individual goals. However, I prefer to harness my skills in a team-oriented environment. It’s more logical to work with like-minded people who have similar goals as you & can clearly see the big picture. The workload is lighter, which liberates team members to focus on what could be their strengths. Meanwhile, they can also improve on their weaknesses by reaching out to their teammates that are stronger in categories they’re trying to improve in. With the proper investment in time, energy & forward progression coming from each member, the team will become a more powerful force. Like Jay-Z said:

If every nigga in ya click is rich, ya click is rugged Nobody will fall, cause everyone will be each other’s crutches

That’s the position you want your team to be in. Everybody in a position of stability, so if one member descends, the rest of the team will be able to pick up their slack & collectively help their teammate until they are back at the level of the rest of the team. To make things even better, when you don’t have to worry about the performance of your teammate, your performance elevates & puts you, along with your coalition in a better position to accomplish the main objective.

The principles of Kwanzaa promote teamwork & collective collaboration. Umoja (Unity), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) & Nia (Purpose) are the three primary principles which I can directly associate with playing your position. With these at the forefront on an everyday basis, I consider myself prepared to handle any task that comes in front of me, whether as an individual, or in a team setting. And I understand that according to each situation, my role will vary. Sometimes, it will be required of me to spearhead the project, and other times, I’ll have to play a secondary or complementary role. It’s all the same to me. As long as we achieve our objective, I could care less if I started it or finished it. As long as I played my part & helped out my teammates, it’s all good with me! We win as a team, we lose as a team. PLAIN & SIMPLE.

Now, just like anything else in this life, this comes with hard work. Getting everybody on the same page, holding each other accountable, communicating with individuals on a regular basis, investing time to make the team stronger & creating a blueprint for present & future progression is far from easy, but each member must be willing to partake in all these activities if they want the end result to be in their favor. If one person even strays away from one of these activities, they jeopardize the success of the team. It’s like that one cat on the court who’s concerned about how many shots they'll take & how many touches they'll get in the game. Once an individual begins to think about how they'll get their numbers, who gets the credit & who wields power, it increases the chances of having a weak link that’s gonna take away from the concept of Ujima. That’s a cancer that can spread if not addressed as soon as it becomes a problem.

Don’t get me wrong, ain’t nothin’ wrong with doin’ for self. Yet, at the same time, you have to know when it’s time for you to step up to the plate, cause when you’re on a team with other players who can put their stamp on a game, there’s no need for you to carry the squad on your back. Someone new will step up every night. That’s the benefit of playing with a team with the right pieces! Even if you’re not the main feature, you still can contribute! Set up your teammates, do the dirty work, roll up your sleeves & get to grindin'! At the end of the day, if you win, that hard work was worth it. If you lose, you walk away with your head high, knowing you did everything in your power to help your team win. Even though you came up short, you played hard & there’s a lesson to be learned with every loss.

Team success can turn into individual accolades without one even knowing. Yet, it doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t happen when you chase glory for selfish reasons. Put in the time, effort, energy & passion, and in due time, you will reap the benefits of your grind. Not everybody can be LeBron, Kobe or Durant! Your moment may come when you get to show your potential to the masses, but if doesn't come when you want it to, don't sweat it! That time will come when you least expect it & you'll be ready.

In order for us to get the most out of each other, we should all sacrifice a little for the sake of the team. Don’t do something for someone & expect instant gratification in return. Do it because it’s the right thing to do! That energy comes back in many ways, along with the feeling that you gave a helping hand to a person who really needed it. Playing your position puts you in a better one. Don't believe me? Ask Derek Jeter. Teamwork makes the dream work!