It's hard not to feel like we're not on the losing team when things aren't going are way, but there are a few things we can do to prevent our good intentions from getting sacked. First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that we're part of a team. Take it from the pros, the star quarterback is only a star because he's got dependable offensive line men and a quick thinking wide receiver. Generally speaking, we can't win the game alone.

Whose on your team? Make a list of the people on the job. What does each person do? If you make each person's responsibilities common knowledge in the beginning, you'll know where your team's strengths and weaknesses are. If you've got a weak link or an injury, you can head off a disaster early on by either reassigning the job, or getting more help. But remember, it's not always necessary to keep score.

Every team has a captain, someone to keep them organized and on target. Make sure your captain is someone that every one feels comfortable approaching. Communication is key to successful teamwork.

And finally, make a strategy. Devise your game plan in the beginning so everyone knows just what needs to be done, when, and why. Although it's happened a few times, you can't kick a field goal unless you're on your half of the field.