"Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best."

— Capt. Richard "Dick" Winters

"Band of Brothers" is probably my favorite book of all time. It is my go-to text for teamwork inspiration and I read it bi-annually to refresh my spirit and perspective on group dynamics, shared goals, resilience, support, and leadership. 

In the book, Stephen Ambrose chronicles the story E Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regimen, a group of enlisted men who, though from starkly different backgrounds, found themselves together with a common goal and little other than each other to meet their objectives. The men of Easy survived because of their ability to champion each other's strengths, bind together to fortify weaknesses, and exercise creativity when performing with limited resources. 

I also draw teamwork inspiration from Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals." I admire Lincoln's choice to surround himself with experts that filled his own knowledge gaps. I love working with people who are smarter and better than I am because I learn so much. I value constructive feedback, opportunities to improve, and motivated teammates.

2022. Katharine Britten Howard