Many runners but one team
February 1, 2022
By Jeff Becraft
About 5 years ago, I stopped riding the bus down for our Leadership Weekend. One of our top alumni, Daisy, even said to me, “Becraft not on the bus?”
There was a proactive strategy behind it — if I was on the bus, then everyone would naturally look to me as the front row leader. By not riding the bus, it gave other people the opportunity to be the front row leader. Big Air, Kim, Austin and other Board members were still on the bus… but it was Maggie and “The Chairman” who became the front row leaders and were running the show on the way down.
For years, I was the MC for Leadership Weekend. But then I started handing things over to Daisy (who is now on our Board) and Daisy and I would be wolfing down meals in the dining hall while we went over what needed to be covered in the next stage of the weekend. More and more alumni began serving in roles that I normally did. It was an exciting thing to see.
In a relay race (let’s say a 4 x 100), there are four runners. They are all on one team. Their goal is to get to the finish line in first place. As the first runner approaches the end of his leg of the race, he has to hand off the baton to the next runner. In the transition zone, both runners are running stride for stride and for a while, both runners have their hands on the baton. At some point, however, the first runner has to let go of the baton or that will impede and slow down the race for the team.
We have been in that transition zone for a while at YC and on January 1st, we handed the baton to Oakley Dickson to be the next Executive Director of Youth Corps and run the next leg of the race. My role has switched to Director Emeritus which is a consultant role if YC needs me.
Some have asked me, “Does this mean retirement?” Not even. The second written purpose I have for my life is “to help shift the vision of people’s lives.” (It is easy to see where Youth Corps fit into that.) I will continue to try and live that out. One of the things that I have always wanted the YC students to catch is to live out who you are. Always give your best and always give 100%… and by doing that, you will help pull others into doing the same. I don’t want them to have that attitude just when they are with Youth Corps… but to live that out no matter where they are or what they are doing.
For the future of Youth Corps, for all the lives that still need to be impacted, to allow someone to run the next leg of the race efficiently, it was the right time to pass the baton. Youth Corps has always been a team effort. I believe the best years of YC still lie ahead.
I want to thank all the community leaders, Board members, financial investors, students and families and others who have worked together and invested in Youth Corps and into me. You all are the best! I appreciate what you have meant to me personally and to the lives that have been impacted.
So wherever you are, be it a family, business, organization, or whatever… remember that there are many runners but there is one team. Encourage one another and inspire one another to give your best and run in such a way as to be victorious. And together to celebrate what is accomplished.
Jeff Becraft is the Director Emeritus for Youth Corps and has dedicated much of his life to helping shift the vision of people’s lives. Youth Corps is a life-changing leadership development experience that inspires high school students to be leaders in the Midlands and beyond. You can connect with Jeff at [email protected].
