Lessons from Geese

I spent today in a meeting, and as grueling as that sounds, it wasn't at all. Whenever people gather who choose to be there, and are focused on the same goals, and those goals have nothing to do with personal gain, it's an inspiring day.

There were a lot of take-aways from the day but my favorite was the Lessons from Geese. I don't know who wrote it but it's a great moral on becoming a successful team and integral part of a community. (So much for geese being considered an inferior species.)

Lessons From Geese 

• As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in a 'V' formation, the whole flock has 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. 
• When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. 
• When the lead bird tires, it rotates back into the formation to take advantage of the uplift from the bird in front of it. Another bird from the flock rotates into the lead position. 
• The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up in front to keep up their speed. 
• When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation to catch up with the flock.