Teamwork is the Legacy that Keeps Giving by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM

In the recent 2014 movie, "The Hundred -Foot Journey", the Kadam family from India moves to France and opens their restaurant 100 feet from "Madame Mallory's" Michelin starred restaurant.

At first, "Madame's" restaurant makes it impossible for the "Kadam Indian" restaurant to purchase food at the local markets on their opening night. The next incident, one of "Madame's" Chefs, spray-paints the exterior wall and later firebombs inside the restaurant. Hassan, the cook and second son of Papa Kadam, stops "Madame's" Chef but injures his hands.

The scene is a reminder of why they left India and came to Europe. In India, the Kadam family had a restaurant that was attacked by "firebombs" caused by "an election dispute". The Kadam family moved their guests to safety however their cook, beloved wife, and mother, Mrs. Kadam dies.

"Madame", the next morning after the "firebomb" incident at the "Indian" restaurant, asks her Chefs who is responsible for this damage? She fires the Chef.

"Madame" goes out to clean up the graffiti off the exterior walls. At this point, Papa Kadam goes out in front of his restaurant and begins talking to "Madame" as she is cleaning the graffiti off his walls.

"Madame's" Chef Marguerite told Hassan, about how "Madame" auditions new Chefs by making an omelet. She has also loaned and given, Hassan, French Cook Books with the Michelin guidelines. Marguerite has been a friend, mentor, and teacher to Hassan.

"Madame" has an audition with Hassan and helps him make the omelet as his hands are burned. He picks out all the spices. She realizes his gifts as a Chef when she takes a bite of his omelet.

"Madame" hires Hassan to learn as a Chef at her restaurant and later he will leave for a well-known Paris restaurant and will later return to "Madame's " restaurant as Chef and partner with Chef Marguerite to add a new Michelin star to "Madame's" restaurant. Papa Kadam and "Madame" are getting along and are helping each other to both have successful restaurants.

Both restaurants learn about helping each other to learn, grow, and change. By helping each other in a cultural exchange both restaurants are successful. They began as adversaries and grew into helping each other in a cultural exchange.

Everything in life is about connecting with others. None of us reach our highest potential without working with others cooperatively as a team.

At the Academy Awards every year, the winners are always thanking the other members on their team for making it possible for them to win. None of us win or succeed alone. It takes teamwork to get the job done.

Dr. John Maxwell asserts, "that one is too small a number to achieve greatness. You cannot do anything of real value alone." Coach John Wooden says, "It takes ten hands to make a basket." Each person on the team knows his or her job and works together for the goal of the team. Teamwork gets the job done. Teamwork makes it happen!

In 1979 the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series. Above their dug out it said, "Family". Willie Stargell said, "We won, we lived, we enjoyed as one. We molded together dozens of different individuals into a working force."

What are the three steps you need to know to build your team?

Each member of the team has a job they are expert at doing, and they do their job well. (No member of the team is a prima donna.)
Each team member works well with the other team members, and supports the other members of the team in harmony to reach their goal.
When a member on the team has a problem, each of the other members on the team listens carefully to help find the best solution. By working together, the team can accomplish any goal set before it.
"Madame Mallery" and "Papa Kadam" learned these lessons over time. The winners of the "Academy Awards" have won time and time again by their knowledge of teamwork and their gratitude for it. Every winning team like the "Pittsburg Pirates" who won the "World Series" in 1979 have learned the lessons of putting together a winning team and so can you by following the above three steps.

Remember, "Teamwork" is the Legacy that Keeps Giving!



Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, John Maxwell Team Member, sought after speaker, business owner, motivational teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly article & Musical Tips Blog" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget."

Contact Madeline Frank for your next speaking engagement at mfrankviola@gmail.com