Monday Motivation, 1.24.2022

Written by: Stacy Tolbert

Every Monday, The Rogers-Long Team meets for one of its two weekly meetings. The Monday meeting always ends with “Monday Motivation” in which a few minutes are spent listening to one team member presenting a quote, a quick reading from a book, a scene from a movie, or anything else they find motivating to provide a “spark” to the whole team on a Monday morning.

This phrase is iterated throughout the English Football/Soccer leagues, and it is a cautionary tale to not raise your hopes and to quell any aspiration of winning if the team loses as the blow can be crushing.

At this moment I am sitting at my desk, in my Bills shirt about an hour before kickoff. I had my ritual coffee in my Bills mug this morning and will wear my hoodie sweatshirt from the 90’s for game time. Also, while I type I am making wings for the game, not necessarily to eat, but who’s kidding I will have some and Zoe will crush the rest. This is a ritual I often partake in, and I swear a Victory is usually the outcome. But somewhere in the back of my head, due to years of disappointment the expression “It’s the hope that kills you” is lingering in the back of my head like the garlic smell on your fingers after cooking, no matter how much you try to get rid of it, it just lingers longer than necessary.

Last year at the AFC Championship Game, the Bills lost. At the end of the game, I noticed a team disappointed in themselves and we watched several players stay and watch the KC Chiefs be awarded their trophy for winning the AFC Championship. What I didn’t see was animosity towards from the Bills toward other teammates and no animosity being spewed in the direction of the Chiefs. I witnessed a team coming together, supporting one another, and raising each other up even though they failed to complete their mission. Now to bring this message up to the team of now, what I see is a team that has gotten even stronger, not in the sense of physical strength but mental strength. A team of 53 that has diverse views on life and experiences but not allowing those to affect what matters most, the team. They have found a way to become one unit while having a shit ton of fun while doing it. I know I’m biased, but it has been a long time since I’ve seen a team have so much fun on the field and off. The energy and camaraderie are palpable. If 53 men, an entire coaching staff, and everyone else in the organization can have fun while possessing different views then there is hope for any team to come together and work towards a common goal. Having a common goal and finding a way to come together is the ultimate end game.

So, it’s time, the wings are cooked, I have on my 90’s hoodie on, my grandmother’s necklace in my pocket, and have arrived at my sister’s. Will they win I don’t know, and this won’t change my thoughts on this team. They have already won by being a team. True teams rarely exist and need to be celebrated when they are found, much like our team here at the RLT. (Rogers-Long-Tolbert, just a joke but I was here first)

To wrap this thought train up  I want to share Ted Lasso’s quote regarding “It’s the hope that kills you”

“So, I’ve been hearing this phrase ya’ll got over here that I’m not too crazy about. “It’s the hope that kills you”. I disagree, I think it’s the lack of hope that comes and gets you. See I believe in hope. I believe in believe. Now where I’m from we got a saying too, it’s a question actually, Do you believe in miracles?” at the end of this speech, he asks the club again and if they do to circle up for a huddle.

So maybe it’s ok to hope, (for next year (this was added post-game)).

Post-game thoughts:

I giggle now at the title of this MM.  It was a great game and fun to watch, though I prefer for my team not to put me on a roller-coaster. I did notice one thing, they were far more melancholy than most games I watched this season, not the ‘we’re having fun playing a game team’ I observed most of this season. What I do know is this (as I type at 10:19 tonight). The Bills Mafia will be at the airport to greet their team. Why? I know they will because in my heart they believe in them and know that their team has that something special that doesn’t come along very often and the fans are a big part of the team, the supporting cast members. Because just like in life a true team does not work without great support.  The message of all of this is simple, when you find a team (work or play) that is cohesive you have something special, so take that momentum, atmosphere, and conquer. You may not achieve a big goal the first time, or the second, but maintain the drive and press on, otherwise, you may not reach what you strived for. Yet always remember, you alone don’t comprise a team, it is everyone else around you that makes the team and makes you the best you that you can be. Surround yourself with good people and you will be a great people.

Now, what the fuck am I going to do on my birthday.

This phrase is iterated throughout the English Football/Soccer leagues, and it is a cautionary tale to not raise your hopes and to quell any aspiration of winning if the team loses as the blow can be crushing.

At this moment I am sitting at my desk, in my Bills shirt about an hour before kickoff. I had my ritual coffee in my Bills mug this morning and will wear my hoodie sweatshirt from the 90’s for game time. Also, while I type I am making wings for the game, not necessarily to eat, but who’s kidding I will have some and Zoe will crush the rest. This is a ritual I often partake in, and I swear a Victory is usually the outcome. But somewhere in the back of my head, due to years of disappointment the expression “It’s the hope that kills you” is lingering in the back of my head like the garlic smell on your fingers after cooking, no matter how much you try to get rid of it, it just lingers longer than necessary.

Last year at the AFC Championship Game, the Bills lost. At the end of the game, I noticed a team disappointed in themselves and we watched several players stay and watch the KC Chiefs be awarded their trophy for winning the AFC Championship. What I didn’t see was animosity towards from the Bills toward other teammates and no animosity being spewed in the direction of the Chiefs. I witnessed a team coming together, supporting one another, and raising each other up even though they failed to complete their mission. Now to bring this message up to the team of now, what I see is a team that has gotten even stronger, not in the sense of physical strength but mental strength. A team of 53 that has diverse views on life and experiences but not allowing those to affect what matters most, the team. They have found a way to become one unit while having a shit ton of fun while doing it. I know I’m biased, but it has been a long time since I’ve seen a team have so much fun on the field and off. The energy and camaraderie are palpable. If 53 men, an entire coaching staff, and everyone else in the organization can have fun while possessing different views then there is hope for any team to come together and work towards a common goal. Having a common goal and finding a way to come together is the ultimate end game.

So, it’s time, the wings are cooked, I have on my 90’s hoodie on, my grandmother’s necklace in my pocket, and have arrived at my sister’s. Will they win I don’t know, and this won’t change my thoughts on this team. They have already won by being a team. True teams rarely exist and need to be celebrated when they are found, much like our team here at the RLT. (Rogers-Long-Tolbert, just a joke but I was here first)

To wrap this thought train up  I want to share Ted Lasso’s quote regarding “It’s the hope that kills you”

“So, I’ve been hearing this phrase ya’ll got over here that I’m not too crazy about. “It’s the hope that kills you”. I disagree, I think it’s the lack of hope that comes and gets you. See I believe in hope. I believe in believe. Now where I’m from we got a saying too, it’s a question actually, Do you believe in miracles?” at the end of this speech, he asks the club again and if they do to circle up for a huddle.

So maybe it’s ok to hope, (for next year (this was added post-game)).

Post-game thoughts:

I giggle now at the title of this MM.  It was a great game and fun to watch, though I prefer for my team not to put me on a roller-coaster. I did notice one thing, they were far more melancholy than most games I watched this season, not the ‘we’re having fun playing a game team’ I observed most of this season. What I do know is this (as I type at 10:19 tonight). The Bills Mafia will be at the airport to greet their team. Why? I know they will because in my heart they believe in them and know that their team has that something special that doesn’t come along very often and the fans are a big part of the team, the supporting cast members. Because just like in life a true team does not work without great support.  The message of all of this is simple, when you find a team (work or play) that is cohesive you have something special, so take that momentum, atmosphere, and conquer. You may not achieve a big goal the first time, or the second, but maintain the drive and press on, otherwise, you may not reach what you strived for. Yet always remember, you alone don’t comprise a team, it is everyone else around you that makes the team and makes you the best you that you can be. Surround yourself with good people and you will be a great people.

Now, what the fuck am I going to do on my birthday.

Stacy Tolbert, The Transaction Coordinator for The Rogers-Long Team: Powered by Hometown Realty, was a client of Ben & Kevin’s in 2015. After hiring The RLT for her family’s move, Ben returned the favor and hired her to come work with the team! Stacy’s primary role is coordinating transactions from contract to close. In her spare time, you can find Stacy working in the garden, tasting Craft Beer, or managing her three fantasy football teams!