After a long Spring and Summer wait, the college football season is here. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to watch the Arkansas vs. Alabama (click About to see which team I rooted for) game in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was a special event, celebrating my best friend’s 30^th birthday. If you’re not keeping up with NCAA college football, I’d like to mention that Alabama is the defending national champion team (ranked #1) and that Arkansas was ranked #10 in the AP Poll. To this point, it was the can’t-miss game of the season for thousands of fans.

We were among a record number of fans (76, 808 was the official number in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium) and contributed our best to a deafening roar of support for our team. Regardless of the outcome of the game, it was evident that the crowd was definitely the 12^th man on the team. Screaming our heads off, we supported our favorite team 100%.

In life and in your career, who is your “12^th man”? Who supports you no matter what? What I’ve come to realize is that our success is tied largely to those that support us. Surround yourself with positive influences who will champion your success as an individual. It drives us to be better employees, friends, and spouses. It keeps us grounded, but also inspired by the support of our network.

The next time you see a sports game on television, hear it on the radio, or watch it in person, think to yourself. Would it be the same without the crowd’s support? I think you’d agree that it wouldn’t. So, I’d like to ask again – who’s your 12^th man?