Every two years, the Olympic Games remind us of something we sometimes forget in business. Individual talent is impressive. Teamwork is unstoppable.
This year, both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic Hockey teams did something remarkable. They defeated heavily favored Canadian teams to win gold. On paper, Canada had the pedigree. The history. The star power. The expectations.
But games are not won on paper.
They are won in the locker room. They are won in practice. They are won in sacrifice.
Hockey is a beautiful example of interdependence. A forward cannot score if the defense does not hold the line. A goalie cannot shine without disciplined backchecking. The player who never touches the puck during the highlight moment may have made the block or the screen that made the goal possible.
The gold medal is hung around individual necks. But it is earned collectively.
What struck me most watching those teams was not just their skill. It was their cohesion. Their willingness to play for one another. The absence of ego in critical moments. When the pressure was highest, they did not try to do more individually. They trusted the system. They trusted each other.
That is teamwork at its highest level.
In real estate, we love to talk about independence. We are independent contractors. We build personal brands. We compete. And that independence is powerful. It fuels ambition.
But none of us succeeds alone.
Behind every great agent is an ecosystem. A manager who steps in during a difficult negotiation. A compliance professional who protects you from risk you never even saw. A marketing team that elevates your listing presentation. An escrow officer who navigates a crisis. A fellow agent who shares insight. A culture that pushes you to raise your standards.
The truth is that our best work happens when we lean into the team.
There is a moment in every hockey game when a player could force a low percentage shot or pass to a teammate in a better position. The teams that win championships make the extra pass.
They trust the collective outcome over the individual statistics.
When we collaborate across offices. When we share best practices. When we support one another in a difficult transaction instead of competing for credit. When we show up to sales meetings engaged and contributing rather than consuming. We are making the extra pass.
And those small decisions compound.
Canada may have been favored. But favor does not beat unity. Talent does not beat discipline. Reputation does not beat chemistry.
Team does.
As we move through this year, I would challenge each of us to ask a simple question. Am I playing for my own stat line, or am I playing for the crest on the front of the jersey?
Because in the end, championships are not won by the most talented individual. They are won by the most connected team.
Let’s make the extra pass.
Let’s block the shot for each other.
Let’s compete at a level that makes our culture our unfair advantage.
Gold medals are earned together.
Let’s go get one!
TERRY Talks 