Communities Are the Driving Force of Change

Through Spartan Races, I’ve been fortunate enough to help millions of people get off the couch and make a healthy change in their lives.

But, I didn’t do it alone.

I have the whole Spartan community to thank for that.

Spartan truly is a global community. Our reach spans across more than 30 countries and more than five million participants have crossed one of our finish lines. Spartan is about inspiring each other to push ourselves past our limits and to become better versions of ourselves.

In my quest to reach 100 million people, I’ve been thinking a lot about the role businesses play in building communities that can change the world. As I’ve said before, the secret to happiness lies in helping others.

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” 

Giving can take many forms, but without a community, it’s nearly impossible to bring about change. Here’s why communities play such a pivotal role:

• Every one of us has a limited perception of the world. By working in teams, we bring new perspectives and ideas. One person’s strengths are often another’s weakness. Together, we can combine our skills and support one another to build a better world.

• In improv comedy, the golden rule is to always say, “Yes, and…” When a performer pitches a new idea, team members do not suggest alternatives. They take the original idea, say yes and build off of it. This method helps create trust and respect within a group, and it works in almost any collaborative situation.

• Communities support one another. You see it all the time. The recent hurricanes caused people all over the country to send supplies, food, and support. Whenever a school needs to raise money, parents, teachers, and students come together to host a fundraiser. Humans inherently want to help others when they see they are in need.

Want to build your community up? Start by thinking about how you can help the people closest to you. I realized that by encouraging those around me to make a healthy change in their lives, I could also help the world. Now, that small group of Spartans we started out with has grown into a worldwide community, but our mission is still the same: help others live a healthier, happier life.