Some of the more iconic television commercials in recent history include the Budweiser Clydesdale horses. In each commercial, these steadfast animals are seen pulling carriages and heavy loads. There’s a majestic quality to these horses that makes them instantly recognizable and beloved. (Here’s a favorite one of their legendary commercials.)
Throughout most of recorded history, horses were the constant source of power for transportation, industry, agriculture, military, manufacturing, and every kind of human activity. Clydesdales are incredible creatures in this regard – bred to carry heavy loads and perform mighty works. It’s not uncommon for a Clydesdale to be able to haul a ‘deadweight’ (think of towing a log or rock) equal to 20% of their body weight. For a 2,000-pound horse, that’s a 400-pound load.
If we provide that horse a few resources (like a cart with wheels) and place the load in the cart, the pulling-capacity of the horse increases to 100% of their body weight (usually well over 2,000 pounds!). Provide proper nutrition, slope, environment, temperature, etc. and the capacity can increase even further. The most ever recorded was an impressive 58,000 pounds!
As individuals, we’re much like these incredible animals; we’re strong, we have expertise and capacity, we have talent and skill, etc. Our ‘ability’ when we’re working is clearly on display through our professional achievements. But what happens when you pair one Clydesdale horse with another Clydesdale and have them work together as a team? It seems logical that their combined pulling power will double, yes?
Actually, no.
When paired as a team, draught horses have an incredible ability to expand their power exponentially. Two horses together can pull more than 2X what they could as individuals. If both horses can pull 5,000 pounds alone, teamed together they may pull 14,000 or more. And, the more two horses train and work together, (i.e., get to know each other) they can increase that load to even greater numbers. Imagine the incredible power of 16 or 20 horses working together in common purpose and goal!
This is exactly how our networking teams help improve our individual abilities. Like a Clydesdale, if we have a few resources added to our repertoire, we can be even better. Our networking team helps us perform at a higher level. They challenge us to stretch further and reach higher. We’re all ‘rowing’ in the same direction and working toward the same goals — that effort pulls forth greater outcomes from each of us.
Our efforts together on our Two Twelve teams matter because of this. The analogy to the Clydesdale is perfect; we’re certainly strong individual professionals, but we’re absolutely unstoppable working together.