Cotton Picking Contest

In the fall of 1991 I was asked to participate in a cotton picking contest which was designed to help raise money for the YMCA  in Adamsville, Tennessee. Each team in the competition had five pickers.  The teams were to pick cotton as fast as possible for thirty minutes. At the conclusion the horn would sound and all teams would bring their cotton bags in to be weighed. After the weighing in was over, the winning team was announced. Guess what? The team I was on won the contest!  The Independent Appeal newspaper was there and took a picture of our team, all five of us, holding our individual trophies. The picture and an article would come out the next week in the newspaper.

Well, that was not bad for a country boy who had never picked cotton. I had grown up in Tyler, Texas and had picked many tomatoes and peaches in my growing up days but never cotton. 

The other four pickers on my team were Fred and Sherry Carroll, Gaylon Moore and Estel Ray Mills; all of them were experienced and had grown up picking cotton.  So to be part of that winning team made me proud as they called out how many pounds each member of our team had picked. My teammates were not surprised when the man on the scales announced my approximately 8 pounds. The other four pickers carried the day for our team. But I thought I had done my part. 

However, as the photographer took the picture for the newspaper, I began to reflect on how much each of us had picked. I believe Sherry Carroll picked the most, followed by Mr. Mills, Gaylon Moore, Fred Carroll and then me. I may not have picked as much as they did, but at least I contributed in helping our team's victory. We wiped out the second place team by 20 pounds. It was no contest. 

Then it dawned on me as we posed for this picture, which would not only be in the paper but also on display in the YMCA facility, the team would have won without my contribution of 8 pounds. I began to wonder if anyone else realized this fact.

I smiled and shook hands with others as they congratulated us on winning the contest. But down deep I knew the true story--I got a trophy because of my teammates. They would have won without me.

The lesson has a profound meaning. Most of us stand on the shoulders of those who have paved the way for our success. We are often linked with teammates or associates who sometimes contribute more to our overall success than we do. 

And could it be that perhaps my contribution should not be measured in pounds?  The contest rules required five members on each team. I did agree to pick and participate. My team never made me feel inferior or unwanted. They were happy for me to celebrate with them. In fact they never mentioned it to me! But I must tell you that I felt a sense of humility as the picture was being taken. 

The cotton field experience has taught me a very important lesson: leadership is more about "we" than about "me".