A few of us in the office are interested in astronomy, and it was in July, 1969, that US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on to the moon.
I think there aren’t many people who haven’t seen the footage of the astronauts creating space history, with Buzz Aldrin being the other astronaut to step off the lunar module and on to the moon’s surface. Spare a thought, though, for Michael Collins, the third astronaut on the Apollo 11 team, who was left in the orbiting Columbia.
I use the word “left” deliberately, as Collins’ role can’t be understated. As the unsung hero of the mission, he was responsible for piloting Columbia, and for making sure the team reached home safely.
So, how does all of this fit into this week’s Team Blog? What appeals to me most about the Apollo 11 mission is the teamwork involved, each astronaut knowing his duty, making sure he fulfilled what was required of him for the duration of the mission.
Teamwork
It’s like that in the “Friend” office, as well. The editor, Angela, is often synonymous with the face of the magazine, and her role is of prime importance, making sure the magazine is published, week in, week out, to the highest possible standards. However, Angela, I’m sure, would be the first to agree that teamwork within the office is the most important aspect in reaching these standards.
As part of the Fiction Team, I and the other team members work closely together to make sure the best stories and artwork appear in the magazine. Fiction Editor Shirley’s blogs are not only fun to read, but often you’ll find golden snippets of information within them, challenging writers to try their hand at different genres and coming up with more diverse storylines. I like that, as it’s all about looking forward with endeavour.
Just like the Apollo mission of ’69, teamwork is essential for everyday success. We’re not all destined to be astronauts, and like Michael Collins, our role might be behind the scenes, but rest assured there will be others who are relying on us to perform to the best of our abilities.
Alan Spink I am a member of the “Friend” Fiction Team. I enjoy working closely with writers and being part of the creative process, which sees storytelling ideas come to fruition. A keen reader, I also write fiction and enjoy watching football and movies in my spare time. My one tip to new writers is “write from your imagination”.
