Teamwork is something that I’ve heard a lot about, read a lot about, but I don’t think I fully understood until recently.

I remember when I first started working with 8BIT several years ago. I think it was John Saddington who wrote about it.

He likened the small business startup work of 8BIT to that of an RPG video game like Final Fantasy. Everyone had an important part to play in the quest.

And it’s true.

I saw it playout with the 8BIT team day-in and day-out via backchannel communications.

John, Tom, Chris, Jared and Michael all brought their special skill set to the ‘party.’ Be beyond each ‘class’ of character—designer, coder, tester, etc…—each of these guys brought unique perspective and personality that would otherwise be impossible for one person to have.

A team reduces blind spots and gives added perspective.

It also made each of their own specialities better.

A coder could get a designers perspective, a designer could get a testers feedback on design, and so on.

When you work on your own, you are limited to your own skill set.

A team helps each other level-up faster.

But ultimately, you get more done as a team.

Everyone working together to push a project, concept, or idea, creates the centergy superpower that every successful group of heros have.

When you work on your own, it takes much longer to make quality progress on any given task and it can be super easy to get tunnel vision.

A team always gets it done.

But a team doesn’t materialize out of thin air.

Just because you have a group of people willing to do work, doesn’t mean you have a team. A team understands and knows everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, and important roles they play on the team.

A team takes time to grow and mature before it can ever successfully execute.

I’ve missed being a part of a team.

For the past several years—since the end of 8BIT—I’ve been without a team. I’ve been a ‘one-man-show’ for a lack of a better term.

Maybe a Lone Ranger?

I liked the Lone Ranger, but even he didn’t go alone.

So I am happy to say that…

I am part of a team again!

For the past several years I’ve been working with an awesome cast of characters with ChurchMag.

There have been a wide variety of people that have contributed towards it in the past several years. Some write blog posts, some give advice, some encourage—all have contributed in important ways—and I am grateful.

In the past few months a number of ChurchMag authors—soon to be Staff Writers—have really stepped-up their engagement.

I am not entirely sure what has pushed them or me over the edge—maybe it has been a slow progression all along.

I feel like I am part of a team again—and it’s awesome!

The exchange of ideas for blog posts, feedback on new logos for new secret web projects, or thoughts on apps being reviewed, the team that has formed around ChurchMag is incredible.

Maybe it was the time I worked alone that created this well defined contrast; but I finally understand just how important and powerful teamwork can be.