Main Character Energy Won’t Move the Wheel

During a recent trip to the Sphere in Las Vegas, one line from the Postcards From Earth show made me sit up a little straighter:

“A billion spokes all believing they are the center of the wheel.”

This statement was part of a larger narrative about humanity’s impact on Earth—our tendency to conquer, consume, and move on without acknowledging the consequences. In the film, humanity had abandoned Earth to let it heal, venturing to new planets. The message was clear: we had lost sight of our only true home because we saw ourselves as the center of it all.

It struck me how this message mirrors dynamics in the workplace. Just like those billion spokes, we often view work through the lens of our own responsibilities, ideas, and priorities. We act like the main characters, rarely stopping to consider the countless other stories unfolding around us. We believe we’re at the center, but the reality is that we’re all just spokes—individual parts of a greater whole.

While this might feel like a wake-up call, it’s also hopeful: if a billion people can cause chaos by moving independently, imagine the power of a team aligned toward the same mission. High-performance teams aren’t built on lone heroes; they thrive when everyone’s efforts align toward a bigger mission. Your strengths matter most when they’re directed toward a shared goal.

Consider the Miami Heat of the early-2010s. With superstars like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, you’d expect them to blow out all the competition. But even with all that talent, they initially struggled. It wasn’t until they accepted new roles, adjusted their play styles, and prioritized the team’s success that they found their rhythm and won championships. This is the kind of shift needed in our teams and companies—becoming more effective together, not just a collection of strong individual parts.

When we all move in the same direction, we create a force stronger than anything we could manage alone. Your role may feel small, but it can help create something larger.

The future of work isn’t just about hitting goals; it’s about finding purpose. It’s the difference between clocking in and experiencing your work’s impact. When we see ourselves as part of a collective mission, the daily grind becomes a shared journey.

If you want real momentum, focus on how your role fits into a collective mission. Let’s take back Monday by recognizing that we’re part of the wheel’s driving force, not its center. When we move together, the possibilities are limitless.