Are You a Good Pit Crew?

During Morning Launch this week, I shared with the children my personal highlight from attending the Formula One World Championship race a couple weeks ago. I'm not at all oriented toward cars and car racing, but I sure do love me a good metaphor, so when I saw those pit crews in action, and then watched three-time champion Lewis Hamilton catapult himself into his crew's arms immediately after his photo finish, I knew I had a great moment to share.

The point was, I hope clear: Behind every world champion auto racer is a flawless crew working the pit stop, each member highly fit, trained, focused and strong -- oh, and willing to be anonymous to the cheering crowd.

I commented to the children that although each of them is on their own journey -- we could look at a day at school as a few bracing laps around the track -- each of them also has daily opportunities to be a good "pit crew" to each other. How can they quietly and diligently support one another in being and doing their best?

Their ideas included minimizing distractions during Core Skills and offering words of encouragement for successes and consolation or advice for disappointing moments. The question "Are you being a good pit crew?" became a quick way for them to recalibrate themselves during the week. (Maybe I should also use this question when the room gets stinky after P.E.?;-))

Hopefully over the weekend, at home with their families (or coming to race a few laps at the schoolhouse workday!) they'll have plenty of opportunities to practice stellar pit-crewmanship. (New word. You read it here first.)