By John Valentik MS, NASM-PES, FMS

Paige and I would like to boast a little for this week’s post. Last weekend we completed the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk raising money and awareness for suicide prevention. This was a 16-mile walk in Boston, MA starting at 8pm and concluding around 2am! From this walk and last year’s in Washington, D.C. we’ve now raised over $5,000 combined for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The main reason for this post is to emphasize the importance of accomplishing goals as a team. While individual growth is necessary and vital in most facets of our lives, all of these areas are positively impacted from the addition of the support systems we have. Let’s peel this back a bit.

Think about a goal you’ve accomplished recently. Fitness, financial, career? While you obviously played a major role in that goal, would you attribute the success to anyone else as well? Maybe the motivational words of a loved one cheering you on, or brainstorming with a colleague on the project accomplished? Think about any awards show you’ve seen on TV. Typically, the speech doesn’t end with, “I’d like to thank me and only me!” It’s another reason why sports teams are rarely successful from a championship standpoint when they have just one superstar on the team.

Involving others in the process serves a few purposes. You get the teamwork component of sharing your ideas with someone else who may be able to provide valuable insight or hands on assistance. But, you also get the accountability component knowing that someone else is aware of the direction you are trying to go. When we get others involved in the process of our goals, we have the added dynamic of not wanting to let that person down in addition to ourselves.

Next time you are setting a goal or taking on a new project or endeavor, consider getting someone you respect involved in the process. This can be as little as making them aware for the accountability aspect, or more significant in asking for their contribution. I know that the Overnight Walk experience would not have been the same without Paige by my side these past two years. It’s also moving to walk with thousands of other people who have been impacted by suicide. In other areas, I’d attribute success in my career to hard work on my end, but mentorship from other wonderful faculty at Penn State. Fitness goals wouldn’t happen without Paige and the kids serving as motivators for me to take care of myself. The list goes on and on! To close, since most of our readers know I’m a fan of quotes, here’s one for you!

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Robin Jones Gunn