The last project was called pass the blockade that all the employees joined as one. It rained
out of sudden when the coaches made preparations for the project and they explained the rules
to us in the corridor.
1. All members should work as a team with the help of a board and pass the rope from above.
2. Talking is prohibited during the project.
3. No one should touch the rope.
4. If any rule is broken, the project should be restarted and those who have already passed the
rope should go back.
5. A male and female should be elected as the commander and vice commander respectively.
6. If someone breaks the rules for the first time, all members should do 10 push-ups, the second
time, 20 push-ups, the third time 40 push-ups, and so on. From the second time, only the commanders
do the push-ups.
7. The project should be finished within a limited time which is decided by the commanders.
The rain stopped just when the coach finished explaining the rules. And the coach asked the
commanders how much time it would take to accomplish the project. The commanders said, “18 minutes.”
Hearing this, all members became a little frightened and hesitated in face of such high rope and strict
rules. But after rethinking, we finally decide the time to be 18 minutes.
Before the project began, all members had a deep discussion about how to cooperate and who
would be the first and last to pass the rope. Then the challenge began, five or six strong male colleagues
carried the board and another five or six colleagues helped a thin man to get onto the board with their
hands. Under their help, the thin man successfully climbed to the other end of the board, jumped to the
ground and supported the followers. As more members passing the rope successfully, we felt at ease
gradually and thought that the game was no big deal. However, the coach suddenly cried, “STOP!” out
of the blue, astonishing everyone. It turned out that someone talked and someone touched the rope
during the project.
10 push-ups are no big deal, so we finished them easily and went on our challenge.
But before long, the coach cried stop again, because someone touched the rope. We accepted the punishment, did 20 push-ups and started it all over again. It began smoothly, over 20 members
successfully getting to the other side and we cheered up seeing more and more members getting
to the end side of the rope. But the coach shouted stop when there were only a few left because
the rope was touched again. The situation became rather tough. It was not HEDY style to choose
quitting but if continuing the project, it would be a great challenge to the commanders, especially
the female commander who should do 40 push-ups. To be, or not to be: that is a question. We were
faced with the dilemma like Hamlet. All were in silence and the air seemed to be frozen, while the
coach urged the commanders to decide whether to continue or quit. A colleague cried out,
“Can I do push-ups for our female commander?” The coach refused his request and gave the
reason, “In many cases, only a few of us should take the responsibility for the whole team and their
responsibility should not be shouldered by others.” It reminded us that in some occasion, someone
would pay for others’ mistakes. The newest example is that we should have set off at 8 o’clock this
morning but actually departed at 8:05 for some colleagues were late. And we all waste 5 minutes
for their mistake.
This time we learned a lesson, putting two bamboo poles at the two sides of the rope
to prevent anyone touching the rope.
Eventually, the last member passed across the rope successfully. We all cheered our
victory after all the hardship. And the coach gave us a surprise that we only used six minutes
and one second to finish the project, much shorter than we expected and the set time 18 minutes.
Just as a Chinese couplet goes,
Where there is a will, there is a way, burning our boats and we can recapture our lost land;
Heaven rewards the faithful, enduring the hardship beyond imagination and we can
conquer our enemy.
And everyone got a training certificate.
