Great Talent vs Great Teammates

Typically when I am out doing yard work I’ll listen to a podcast or two. Recently I was listening to Colin Cowherd on ESPN talking about great talent and great teammates.

Over the years from playing sports to construction to church I have been able to work alongside people who had talent. One of the sad realities is that great talent does not always come with humility. It’s hard many times for those with great talent to defer to another teammate.

I have been a Los Angeles Laker fan since I was a kid.  Magic Johnson was a great talent, but he was even a better teammate.  He made everyone around him much better. Kobe Bryant on the other hand, while a great talent, is less of a great teammate.

Great Teammates do at least four things well:

1. Get excited when others excel.

2. Defer to others.

3. Get along with others.

4. Possess great attitudes.

Magic Johnson did all four and more very well.  Someday your name will come up in a conversation. How will you be remembered?  More for your talent, or more for being a great teammate?