In the 1800, when steam engine boats were still in operation, dozens of men would flood the engine room to shovel the coal into the boiler’s firebox with a no-nonsense supervisor sweating on their shoulders, ensuring that there is enough coal in the boilers to maintain the speed of the boat. They’ll be there, burning in excessive heat for hours, days and months until the next destination while people inside the rooms all the way to the top will be there having fun with no idea what was going on underneath.
However, coal trimmers and firemen were the least fortunate people, they were the least respected even though they were the ones doing the most important job in the boat. They were not allowed to go anywhere near the passengers, but still, they would do their jobs with commitment and never for once complained that they drove a boat from one point to another, but never got any recognition for that.
Neil Armstrong was the first person to land on the moon. It must have been a very nice experience, to do something nobody has ever done before, landing on the moon for the very first time. He stamped his footprint, planted the flag. Deep down he probably felt like, they’ll come up here again after me but I’ll remain the first person to stand here.
Do you ever wonder how many people contributed to make his famous landing a success? Do you ever wonder how many engineers who spent sleepless nights planning, designing, building and testing the rockets he used to get up there? How many people who stayed awake monitoring him, providing him with all the assistance he needed to survive up there? Countless, but he took all the glory because we only saw him floating on the moon, not those who abandoned everything else in their lives for his survival. We barely even remember or mention Buzz Aldrin who stood next to him and took him a picture, because all eyes were on Neil Armstrong.
That’s life, those who do the hardest work are always less considered than those who take the final product and show it to the world. But we all need people like that, a very good support team to survive. We need people who will do all the hard work for us to grow, to be better people everyone notices without sulking when their names aren’t mentioned along ours.
Apart from the voice you hear and the face you see, do you ever wonder who created the beat on your favourite song, who composed the lyrics, how many days were spent recording, rerecording and sampling the song?
Do you ever wonder who wrote your favourite movie, the number of people who worked behind the scenes? Its hundreds of them, but the ones who get the glory are those we see on television screens and cinemas
Before there’s a shop you buy in, the salesman and cashiers, there’s a team that works tirelessly, day and night to get your favourite product to the shelves of your favourite store. Do you ever wonder how many of them, the struggles and the working conditions they find themselves in trying to produce your product? Let me tell you, plenty, sometimes they feel like dropping everything and run away, because of the working conditions, but they keep going because it’s their job and their responsibility is to make sure you get what you want as a consumer
The truth is, behind every great invention there’s a team that works tirelessly trying to produce it. We don’t see them but they’re there doing their best to keep you happy with less to no complaints at all
You too, build your own team because we all need a very good support system that won’t let us down even when we are miles away, when we walk on the moon. We need people who won't sulk when they're not recognized for the effort they put in to make our dreams come true, but who will constantly work even harder to sustain it. People who will leave their babies at home to entertain ours just like our grandparents did, all in the name of loyalty and valuing what they do to support you
Brian Baloyi was named Spiderman for his heroics saves he made to save Kaizer Chiefs, the recently departed Chippa Masinga will always be remembered for the goal he scored that took South Africa to its very first world cup, Zola made the world dance with his own unique way of putting words together, Dr. Rebecca Malope has been in the music industry for so long that many don’t even know she was a pop star before venturing into gospel.
Tom Cruise A.K.A Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible franchise performs all the kinds of stunts. The focus is always on him because he’s a leading actor, you find yourself wondering what he’s gonna do next, how is he gonna do it. But when you look closely you realize that there’s an amazing team that’s constantly with him everywhere he goes and everything he does. They take too much beating for him and almost get killed for him sometimes, but they stick with him through all that.
I can go on but I’ll run out of pages to put down their names because there are so many people who make positive contribution to the world, but when you look thoroughly you’ll realize that behind all of them, there’s always been a very good support system, a dedicated team that stood behind all of them, made it simple for them to shine.
Take your time to build your own loyal support system made of people who won’t wait for you to slip up to claim all the glory, capitalize on the mistakes you’ve made to make themselves look like the good guys on your expense, but those who will fall with you when you fall, rise with you when you rise and celebrate your success with happiness, all for the sake of teamwork.
“It’s all about one day at a time, one day at a time”
Photo by: Rawpixel on Unsplash.com
