All Heart within The Grizz and Memphis
Written By: Shannon Briggs
As the Memphis Grizzlies make their way through the playoffs, I am reminded how the lessons of basketball translate into everyday life. Specifically through the work we do, I see similarities in valuing community over competition and teamwork as a whole.
Ja Morant is the leader of the Grizzlies, and (on a much smaller scale) I have the fortunate opportunity to lead the team at Campfire Collective. Yet unlike most NBA all stars, Ja doesn’t want all the attention on him all the time. In the work Campfire Collective does, my team gets as much credit as I do.
Ja celebrates Jaren Jackson Jr.’s defensive plays. I celebrate the fresh, creative take our Content Kindlers bring to client campaigns. Ja calls for a replay as Yves Pons goes up for a dunk and gets called for an unnecessary foul. I support the team as they engage with our clients, offering feedback and direction behind-the-scenes. Ja calls Zaire Williams his Little Bro, and he claims status as the unofficial agent for De’Anthony Melton. I enjoy mentoring my team, offering them the resources, feedback, and encouragement they need to do their very best work. Ja high fives every player coming on and off the court. I’m grateful every day for each and every member of Campfire Collective.
The value Ja places on community translates on a wider scale: Our NBA team is known for their commitment to the Memphis community. They give as much effort off the court to making our city better as they do during games.
With Campfire Collective, I see a parallel to the wider Memphis community for us as well. We are thankful to be a part of a community that values working together more than competing against each other. In our local marketing world, colleagues often partner together or refer business to each other with the client’s best interest in mind. I value my friendships with colleagues, as we can relate to one another, bounce ideas off each other, and help out when someone seems stuck. While local agencies may seem like competitors on the surface, oftentimes we’re working together behind the scenes to create even higher quality work than we could produce alone.
I’m thankful to be a part of a city that continues to lift each other up however we can. Consumers choose to keep their dollars local. Business owners support other local business owners. Women uplift women. Memphis is consistently ranked as one of the most giving cities in the country. I can see it happening all around me every day, from the non-profits that help our city’s most vulnerable to my neighbors who step in to play with my daughter while I have a quick meeting.
So pardon me if you see me tearing up while chanting Whoop That Trick at the next home playoff game. It’s more than dunks, blocks, and raining threes. It’s all heart. It’s grit and grind. And there ain’t no runnin’ in the M.
