When I was in high school, I joined the choir because fifth period was the longest period of the day. I didn’t want to be stuck in math or some other class for that long, and I honestly thought that it would be a blow off class.
I had a lot of friends involved in music, and I ended up loving chorus. But even more so, the teacher we had was amazing. He was an older man who was so passionate about music and helping students find their voice and confidence.
One day in class we were all distracted by Winter break approaching and we were not taking things as seriously as we should have been. In the middle of practice, he glared at all of us and yelled, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” Some of us weren’t pulling our own weight, and it compromised the entire sound of the song.
When you have four parts of a chorus, each part has notes it needs to hit. If we aren’t strong and work to our highest level together, it shows in the final production. The day he yelled at us; I had never heard that expression before. But through the years it has stuck with me in my work life and home life.
I also think of the show Survivor. Early in the game when you are competing in tribes, your tribe is really only as strong as its weakest link. If one member slows down or screws up one of the challenges, it effects the whole tribe – and you can end up at tribal counsel.
How do you show up for those who depend on you? Are you pulling your own weight? Are you carrying someone else’s weight when you shouldn’t?
