Early last Saturday morning I braved pre-game Husker football traffic and a dangerous new roundabout intersection (it was the scene of 10 accidents in the few days since it opened) to attend a 7th Grade girls' volleyball event.
My TeamMate, LaQuincia, played on the team wearing the light blue shirts. And I was amazed that their young coach managed to inspire these sometimes awkward, self-conscious, pubescent girls. She helped them develop a "team" identity. Before each match, they would huddle and say, "1-2-3 - Cougars!!" and raise their hands in celebration. And when the other team got the serve, the coach would shout, "Ready position!" and the girls would bend their knees in unison and stare intently at the other side of the net.
I remember 7th Grade (vaguely -- it was a LONG time ago) as an awkward age. We didn't have volleyball teams back in the day, of course. I attended Junior High long before Title IX. (Although I did play on a 4-H softball team.) But I do remember my gym teacher, Miss Trapp, keeping me after school, and telling me I could not leave the gym until I learned to serve a volleyball. After many failed attempts, I finally got the hang of it.
The only team I was a part of in high school was the Debate Team, but it was a wonderful experience. I learned to research and speak in public, and I gained self confidence and forged great friendships along the way. Like the 7th Grade volleyball players, I had a terrific young coach, Miss Lewis, who took a motley crew of nerds and turned us into a winning team.
As an Etsy seller, I owe much of the success of my shop to my teams and teammates. When I first opened my shop, the Etsy Newbie Team and later the Lost In The Crowd (LITC) Team (fewer than 10 sales) helped me know that I was not alone --- and that together we newbies could share resources and insights and eventually "graduate" from the LITC Team. My current teams include the Blogging Business Artisans, Baby Boomers, and the Etsy Blog Team. Through these teams I have learned a great deal. I've been inspired and challenged, and I've made new cyber-friends. I have also become part of a community -- a virtual neighborhood -- in the vast cyber-city that is Etsy. So, to my Etsy teammates -- Thank You!!
TTFN
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower
http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower
That's a pretty cool post! I love the idea of teaching teamwork to kids as they are young. It's also nice to be part of a team as an adult in our field!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree about the teams on Etsy. They have been one of the best parts of my Etsy experience and can be a great way to boost sales.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have made some great friends in the Etsy teams! Good points =)
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