by Siddhant
Gracious professionalism is important everywhere that you go. Everywhere. Don’t believe me? Even movie characters need to show GP. But before I explane (I misspelled that on purpose) the movie example, we need to understand what GP really is. GP is the reason I am writing this. It is the reason you are reading this. It is wanting to win, but still helping your competitors, and listening to them. I am writing to you (you probably are on a FLL team) and you are listening. Without GP, there would be no sports movies. There would be no little league. And, more importantly, there would be no Dusty Crophopper (main character in Disney's “Planes”)
Why wouldn’t there be a Dusty Crophopper? It is because Dusty’s GP is a big part of who he is. He complemented his competitors. He helps them before and after the races. He even once saved another plane from a crash. In return, when he was badly damaged by a crash, his competitors helped by loaning him parts and stopping him from forfeiting. This is really the Core Values at work.
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.
With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.
Why wouldn’t there be a Dusty Crophopper? It is because Dusty’s GP is a big part of who he is. He complemented his competitors. He helps them before and after the races. He even once saved another plane from a crash. In return, when he was badly damaged by a crash, his competitors helped by loaning him parts and stopping him from forfeiting. This is really the Core Values at work.
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.
With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.