Single-Acheiver Mindset

The book The Orange Revolution, Adrian Gostick and Chester Elten explain how we are conditioned to focus on the individual, rather than the group. It surprised me to learn that the famous Thomas Edison could not have invented the lightbulb without his team. How come it took me till I was 22 to find this out? I was always told, growing up, that it was him who was able to figure it out the light bulb. That got me thinking.. Most stories of triumph throughout history give all the glory to one person. Who scored the last goal? Who was the first one to step foot on the moon. In reality, most achievers are able to complete these monumental tasks with the help of a team. Most of mankind's big accomplishments have been completed by team. One person cannot get to the moon on his/her own, or build a city, or change the world on their own. I notice that when people talk about music in our culture, most of the emphasis is placed on the lead guitarist or singer, not the drummer or bass player. However, where would the lead guitarists be without his band? Likewise, when I see a movie, the whole cast is rarely given the praise. Most of the time, its one actor/actress that is given all the credit. But creating a movie is a huge project involving many different people working together. Imagine going to see a movie that had great acting and directing, but the special effects and camera work looked awful. The movie would certainly get bad reviews. That’s because to create a movie, there need to be more than just a great actor or director. A movie needs lighting, makeup, special effects, clothing, funding, locations, and many many more jobs and teams.

Many times I take on this individualistic attitude unknowingly as a result of my culture. I lot of the time I think that getting a college degree is something that I am doing. Which is true. Partially. I do what I can, be it, completing assignments, studying, going to class, etc., but who/what else to I need for this degree? I need a school with good professors, supportive friends, a reliable email account, etc. The truth is, that we are all need the people around us to complete tasks.