Ownership turns investment into purpose

Here's the way growing up works: • If your parents buy you a bike, using the kickstand is a maybe. • If you mow lawns to help pay for it, using the kickstand is automatic. Why? Ownership. It turns investment into purpose. The same principle applies whenever people come together to build something worthwhile. Each group was assigned cleanup duties for one full week. Over the course of a season, every athlete served twice, sometimes three times during a deep playoff run. The groups were intentionally mixed: seniors, juniors and sophomores. No rank. No shortcuts. Just shared responsibility, a team within the team. A checklist hung on the coach's office window, and before anyone was excused, a coach inspected the work. Why have athletes clean their own facility? Ownership. Plain and simple. Before the season was over, those athletes no longer saw the stadium as the school's or the program's. They saw it as theirs. Pride followed investment. The following day and all season, our custodial crew handled a full professional cleaning. This wasn't about replacing their work: It was about respect. The effort was noticed, appreciated and, over time, camaraderie grew. That connection spread beyond the locker room. Then came game night. As the band played and the cheerleaders took their places, the team lined up under the goalposts, ready to sprint through the hoop. But this night was different. Leading the charge were the custodians the team had partnered with all season. Why? Partnership. Service. Shared pride. It changed everything. This wasn't just a team. It was our team. If you want to bring people closer, you won't need a band, a hoop or a sprint to the sideline. Just give them something to share–and watch what happens. Tony Legando is a lifelong educator, a hall-of-fame football coach, and author of "To Lead a Good Life," parts 1 and 2, and "Fables for Young Leaders." He is also a public speaker who has inspired leaders for many years. You can contact him at legandot@gmail.com.