06/29/2026
Teamwork. Everyone had a role in it.
Ten years ago today, the Wichita Force won the league championship.
"Everyone had a role in it," was something players often said, not just to me, but to staff, owners, interns, volunteers, sponsors, and fans. Even the fans received championship ring replicas.
We were a team. The only opponents were the teams we played on game day. Even then, they weren't truly against us. They were part of the playful competitiveness that makes sports exciting. In many ways, the entire league is part of the same community.
Years later, I experienced a very different culture. Instead of "we," there was an "us versus them" mentality. When that mindset develops between owners, staff, players, or even the people who support the organization, it creates distance instead of connection. Teams become divided, and everyone feels it.
If you own a business, remember that your clients, customers, and fans are there because they want to support you. Your employees and contractors are there because they believe in contributing their skills. Success comes from recognizing that everyone has a role.
To win as a team, you need to be a team.