Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Regional Manager Justin Boehm takes 1998 Chicago Bulls basketball coach Phil Jackson’s famous quote, “The strength of the team is each individual and the strength of each member is the team,” and draws parallels with the importance of working as a team in the construction sector.
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As a massive basketball fan, the 1998 Chicago Bulls are etched into my mind as one of the greatest teams ever. I recently re-watched the Netflix special “The Last Dance”. Apart from being brilliant to watch, it not only rekindled the nostalgia of seeing greatness in action over their remarkable journey but highlighted that shared objectives and teamwork will always get you to the end goal. Watching it, thinking I should just strap up the old boots again, and seeing Michael Jordan, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), lead the Bulls to that in-a-second three-peat highlighted what can be achieved when a group of individuals unite behind a common goal and strive for greatness.
Michael Jordan was phenomenal. A superstar whose brilliance on the court was matched only by universal admiration off it – every basketball player has owned a pair of Jordans and I’m sure most remember the “I wanna be like Mike” Gatorade Ads. Yet, the true strength of the Bulls lay in their unity. Basketball is played with five players on the court, and a maximum of seven on the bench, all contributing to the team’s success.
Each player, whether a star or a role player, had a specific part to play. The Bulls’ dynasty was not built on individual glory but on the collective effort of all twelve players, each understanding and executing their role to perfection.
Teamwork is one of the keys to success of the lifting equipment industry. When you look upon a city skyline, it’s the tower cranes that often catch our eye, standing tall like the superstars of construction. They are the “MJs” of the project, drawing attention and awe.
However, like the Chicago Bulls, the success of any construction project is the result of collective team effort. Every person on a site, from the engineers and operators to the safety inspectors and maintenance crews, plays a vital role in the seamless execution of operations.
A local star, Luc Longley, the 7-foot-2-inch Australian centre for those 1998 Chicago Bulls, exemplifies to me the unsung hero ethos I see reflected in our industry. His career, though maligned, was crucial to the Bulls’ success. His ability to set up plays and assist his teammates, including Jordan, was invaluable. They may not always receive the accolades, but their work is pivotal. Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) members ensure that the equipment is safe and reliable, delivered on time, with accuracy – setting up the rest of the construction industry for success. Like the way Bulls Coach Phil Jackson drew up plays executed by the players, each move in the lifting industry is carefully orchestrated. With users of our equipment, relying on the trust, competence and cooperation instilled in the team. It’s that trust in LEEA members, being expertly train and given knowledge to perform the right task at the right moment, that helps the team succeed.
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The pursuit of greatness is a collective endeavour. Just as the Bulls pushed each other to be their best, the lifting equipment industry thrives on the shared ambition of its members – Lifting and height safety industries which have eliminated accidents, injuries and fatalities.
It’s that commitment to excellence that drives us, a dedication to not only meet but exceed the standards of safety and efficiency. The Lifting Equipment Industry does not rest on its laurels expecting to change but is relentless in the pursuit of innovation and improvement.
The story of the 1998 Chicago Bulls is more than just a tale of basketball triumph; it’s a narrative that mirrors that of the lifting equipment industry. It’s a reminder that while the stars may shine the brightest, it’s the collective effort of the entire team that elevates it to greatness. As we continue to build and shape the skylines of tomorrow, let’s remember the lessons of teamwork, unity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that those 1998 Bulls showed us all.