The Safety Of Numbers

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"First, we run around until we get to the biggest mountain we can find."
"Okay, and then what?"
"We climb it, and build our home on top of it."

In between a round of emails, coding, babysitting progress bars as they sync up files, and waiting for the next round of emails, I've been hanging out on a Minecraft server. For those of you that don't know what the video game Minecraft is, all you really need to know is that aside from being a kind of a subcultural phenomenon1, it's essentially Lego blocks in a first person POV. If you've ever liked playing with Lego blocks, this game might be right up your alley.

As much as I can talk your ear off about video games, that's not why I'm bringing this up. I'm mentioning this because as I marvel at the home we've built on this server, I realize that just like any big project in life, this mountain fortress couldn't have come to fruition so quickly without teamwork.

The same principles of teamwork apply to all other projects and communities. The reason group projects exist is because one pair of hands can only build so much. Yes, I know you know this. I'm not trying to explain the obvious.

Or am I? Maybe it's because social media is often focused on what makes an individual special, but I see a lot of the internet often forget the purpose of teamwork. Yes, bitching and moaning about having a lot of work, or being unable to work effectively with conditions X, Y, and Z, are perfectly valid. The internet is a suitable platform to blow off steam2, but it seems to me that teamwork doesn't get a lot of credit without seeing quantifiable or qualifiable progress.

Because in Minecraft I can see results of the teamwork, I feel like I have a better appreciation for it. Because I feel like I appreciate it more, I now make a note to appreciate it when I am part of a group. Hi, I'm Nico, I appreciate you.

To the point, I'm writing this today because I hope that when you work on team projects, especially in the realms of the qualitative or intangible, that you realize from the outset why the team was put in place. I hope you don't just file team accomplishments and experiences in the "That Was Neat" mental compartment in your respective brains.

Teams can build amazing things, and it is amazingly gratifying if you take a step back and take a look at those things.

And moreover, I encourage anyone reading this to lend their talents to a team that needs it. Who knows? Maybe you'll build a fucking fortress on a mountaintop.

  1. 3 million gamers can't be wrong.
  2. There's a gamer joke in here if you can spot it.
  • http://jennbollenbacher.com/blog Jenn

    I actually spent a lot of time watching Kyle (the most recent ex) play minecraft, and we watched a lot of youtube videos about it as well, and it's really fascinating. It seems simple because the graphics aren't what we're used to and things are made out of blocks, but there's a lot of strategy in it, as well as teamwork like you said. Awesome analogy :)

  • http://twitter.com/whatanerd Nikki Ursprung

    1. I love Minecraft. Except it has somehow disappeared from my computer. I am sad.

    2. Teamwork in anything is amazing, but it's hard to appreciate it when it's not quantifiable; it's so awkward that we need verifiable results to actually acknowledge what feats have been accomplished.

  • http://twitter.com/neuroticwriter Pam

    Minecraft?  Legos?  That totally sounds something that I would love!

    I agree with you on the whole teamwork thing.  Most people take it for granted or want to to things by themselves.  Having people around you that care and help you achieve goals is huge, and sometimes we forget to say thanks.