July is the first full month of summer, a time when many of us enjoy seasonal events, including taking quality vacations with friends and family. 

Vacations have a wonderful way of refocusing our attention on the HOME TEAM – the individuals we call family.  The thing I like about family is that it is a concept that can be applied to many situations. Family can be defined as narrowly as our immediate relatives or as broadly as our nation, and beyond.

America is such a large country, that it’s often easier to focus on the parts rather than on the whole.  That’s why I like the Fourth of July.  It provides a timely reminder that we are all part of an important whole.  The parades, picnics and fireworks underscore what we have in common and what we have to celebrate.

This year, I was touched by one simple Fourth of July gesture that elevated the concepts of HERO and TEAM.

Tiger Woods, who has distinguished himself in so many notable ways - as an outstanding golfer and a humanitarian - hosted the AT&T National Golf Tournament from July 3rd through the 8th.  Woods dedicated this year’s event to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Services.  He said he would have probably pursued a career in the Armed Services as his father had, if he had not been so successful in golf.  During the tournament, Woods hosted a practice round called the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am, in honor of his late father.  The round afforded two servicemen the opportunity to play along side the world’s top-rated professional golfer.  It was a classic example of someone at the top looking out for the whole team – and in this case, the men and women who defend our freedoms.

The notion of celebrating THE TEAM is also the focus of one of my favorite summertime events, Baseball’s mid-summer classic, better known as the All-Star Game.  It’s a time when Major League Baseball brings together players selected by the fans to play out a cherished rivalry between the American and National Leagues. The event features players with big names – individuals who are heroes to countless fans, both young and old.  It is a wonderful reminder of how excellence can inspire individuals across generations.

In the business world, one often hears about TEAMWORK; and there are many examples of organizations that are driven by successful teams.  One company that has made TEAMWORK a key part of their winning strategy is Southwest Airlines, which I flew from Chicago to Oakland to attend this year’s All Star Game in San Francisco.  During that flight, I experienced firsthand a unique application of TEAMWORK.

I took the flight after completing a long and somewhat challenging week of work.  After a little light reading, a drink and Southwest’s complimentary snacks-in-a-box, I began to nod off.   Between nods, I kept an ear out for the flight attendant because I tend to get dehydrated on flights.

I sat in an aisle seat in the front half of the plane; and our flight attendant was a Hispanic woman with a very attentive disposition.  As I went in and out of various stages of consciousness, I kept listening for her voice, but I woke to the sound of a male voice asking, “Can I get you anything?”  I opened my eyes, a bit disoriented, and looked up at a gentleman standing next to me wearing what appeared to be an officer’s uniform with a distinctive tie featuring the American flag.  Still a bit groggy and confused, I gathered my senses and asked the gentleman to bring me some water.  The officer responded with a smile and said he would return with individual cans of water for me and a fellow passenger.

In what seemed like an instant, the officer returned with two cans of water.

In all my years of flying, I have never seen a flight officer serving passengers.  As I observed him making his way up the aisle, pausing frequently to see if anyone needed anything, I concluded that there was a story here that needed to be told. 

The officer soon completed his round and returned to the back of the plane.

After a suitable lapse of time, I got up and went in search of the officer.  As I neared the back of the plane, I discovered him in an aisle seat – sleeping.  Now, it was my turn to disturb him.  I cautiously introduced myself and asked if he would be willing to be interviewed for my column.  He agreed, and after a few moments, he joined me in the back of the plane.

He introduced himself as Sam Maggiore, a First Officer who has flown with Southwest for about a year.  Prior to joining Southwest, he flew with ATA for four years.

I asked why he was on the flight, and he said he was “dead-heading,” which he explained means traveling to another destination to pick up an assigned flight.  Maggiore said he “dead-heads” frequently, but randomly.

“Okay,” I said, “but do you often tend to the passengers when you dead-head?”

“Yeah, I do” he said with a broad, confident smile.

“But why,” I pressed.

“I don’t know,” he said somewhat hesitantly, a bit embarrassed by the unsolicited attention; “… just to help out,” he continued reflectively; “… to meet people, and to give the crew a break.”

And there it was - the real motivation.  If I can word-smith the officer’s response, I believe Maggiore was saying he did what he did to share in the overall experience of giving customers a quality flight.

While I will add the All Star Game to my list of fond summer memories, First Officer Sam Maggiore’s simple gesture of looking out for his TEAM is something I will long remember.  It was an “All American” act performed simply, unassumingly and apparently without ulterior motive.  It’s the kind of TEAMWORK that makes teams, companies and nations great.

Later this month, diversityinbusiness.com will feature conversations with two men who are also working for a greater whole.  Sam Johnson, managing partner with Ernst & Young, a global professional services firm, talks about his efforts to help build the capacity of newly hired African American accountants.  Johnson participated in a conference held in June in association with Howard University that is the brain-child of Frank Ross, a man who has devoted much of his professional life, and now a good portion of his retired life to helping African Americans succeed in the field of accounting.

Tiger Woods, Sam Maggiore Sam Johnson, and Frank Ross are all HEROES in my book because they go above and beyond the call to make sure the TEAM wins.

This summer, I hope you will be a HERO by demonstrating your own version of TEAMWORK.

You never know who you will inspire.

Dan Perkins

Publisher

diversityinbusiness.com