Sometimes difficult tasks seem so daunting that we simply give up. The following parable by N.S. Gill might give us another avenue when dealing with even the most difficult challenge.

"An old man had a set of quarrelsome sons, always fighting with one another. On the point of his death, he summoned his sons to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a bundle of sticks wrapped together. To his eldest son, he commanded, "Break it." The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the bundle. Each son in turn tried, but neither of them was successful. ‘Untie the bundle’ said the father, ‘and each of you take a stick.’  When they had done so, he called out to them: ‘Now, break,’ and each stick was easily broken. ‘You see my meaning’, said their father. ‘Individually, you can easily be conquered, but together, you are invincible. Union gives strength.’”

The moral of this story seems to be that  breaking goals into smaller, more manageable steps and teamwork, as illustrated by the quarrelsome sons, may be the keys to success in reaching  life's goals.

The Merriam Webster dictionary seems to sum it up. Teamwork is work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. In other words, teamwork is a group of people working towards the common good.

A good team can accomplish almost anything. As you set your life goals, select a team that is dedicated to helping you accomplish even the most difficult ones. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit."

As you go through life, set positive goals, break them into manageable steps, and surround yourself with a strong team. Together, there is little you cannot accomplish.

Jeffrey Bellomo, Esq.