Scoring connections through fantasy football
What makes Propeller such an awesome place to work is something that’s been written about time and time again by colleagues of mine who are much more verbose (and honestly more interesting) than me. There are so many characteristics that go into what this means here at Propeller. It’s a safe place. A caring and compassionate place. A place that is inclusive and welcoming. A place that challenges and encourages growth. The list goes on, and they all contribute so much to the “culture” that LinkedIn buzzes and hashtags about day in and day out, but beyond these foundational values and attributes, there are so many little goings-on that run in the background informing how people might just more simply enjoy their time working here. That’s what I feel like this is about… It’s just my special little anecdote about why I think Propeller is more simply a great place to be.
The connectedness and fun had between teams and colleagues here at Propeller is unlike anything else I’ve seen, and personally, as a football fan, a great legacy of fantasy football is really just the cherry on top, highlighting this fact, which this year I took the lead on organizing and commissioning for our group colleagues that were so inclined to participate. It was an exciting time with August rolling around, sending out the banners on Slack, “It’s that time of year again… Who’s in for the league?”. Assigning the rules, setting up the draft, gauging interest, and pulling together the folks eager to dive in and play together. It’s all par for the course after a certain number of fantasy seasons, to be fair, but what I didn’t expect was seeing it from this overarching organizational perspective and realizing that while fantasy football is, in sorts, a microcosm of the NFL, the Propeller fantasy football league (Drones and Endzones) is in sort a microcosm of Propeller itself. It’s a place to play and have fun, a thing that brings people together to dive into their passions or interests, and a way to also roll up your sleeves and take seemingly silly things seriously (but not too seriously) as you shoot for the moon and roll with the punches.
For sports fans here in Denver, it’s the same thing every year. A long, hot summer with nothing but Rockies baseball to bide your time. It’s enduring, to say the least, but soon enough, the tides turn and the heat picks up as the temperatures dip and we can lean into our true sources of Mile High pride. The Avalanche have built themselves into a perennial playoff contender, still riding the high of a Stanley Cup win in 2021. The Nuggets have climbed their way out from the middle of the pack, (superteams be damned) and risen to their first NBA championship here in 2023. And the Broncos… Well, they’ve impressively found a way to build and crush hopes over the years post-Peyton perhaps like no other franchise in sports. Each summer is filled with buzz and swirling rumors, “This is the year they make some noise again”. Each September is a crash into reality and a reminder of the sad state of our storied franchise. But for fellow fans of a deplorable NFL team, there’s always a silver lining to the season start: Fantasy football.
For the uninitiated, fantasy football is an e-sport of sorts, that in its most usual form is built upon a “league” comprised of friends, family, strangers (in some weird circumstances, I guess), or quite commonly, coworkers that in essence aims to mimic the rigors and rituals of actually running an NFL team.
Real football players play the game in real life, but fantasy football translates their performance into points that score for each participant’s fictional team. The year is kicked off with a draft, giving everyone a fair and structured format to pick their players to start the season with, and quite honestly can be the most exciting part of many leagues as a chance for one’s NFL knowledge, prep work, and strategic prowess (or lack thereof) to shine and the set the stage for season ahead. From there on out, it’s up to each manager to watch the games unfold every week, analyze their player’s game, tune in to the talking heads, and keep on top of the news, trends, and rumors that will inform who they start, who they sit, and who they’ll target to acquire via negotiation and trade or keen pickup from the wasteland of free agency. A team goes head to head in a matchup between managers each week, a record is kept, and eventually one might find themselves in the fortunate position to enter the playoffs and vie for the league championship:
The absolute pinnacle of one’s imaginary sporting success each and every NFL season.
It’s been a light-hearted and lightly competitive platform for coworkers to get to know each other on a new level and for paths to cross that otherwise don’t so very often. I’ve enjoyed seeing and interacting with colleagues in a new setting and in a new light. It’s also been a way to come closer and sympathize and empathize with those struggling personally. Could you imagine being a New York Giants or New England Patriots fan and also having an absolute dud of a fantasy team?? I’m here for y’all… 😉 But more, it’s been a real blast of a way to break up the work with workmates and remind me of the fortune I have in being surrounded by wonderful folks and the diversity that comprises this captive group. This is a league built upon a lovely mix of backgrounds, personalities, geographies, ages, and genders that I couldn’t be more grateful to work and play alongside.
We’ve still got a few weeks left to see how this season will play out ahead of an exciting culmination and someone claiming the crown, and for as much uncertainty as fantasy football can hold, I’m sure we’re left with plenty of highs and lows yet to be ridden, upsets to marvel at, and triumphs to cherish. All of this, though, is really just a means of saying, it’s been a great time and I’m sure your team or workplace would offer the same, should you take it upon yourself to give it a shot. If you haven’t already, consider setting up a league and seeing who’s interested in playing along! You might be surprised at who hops in and the stories that unfold, but simply offering a means to connect in a friendly competitive tilt like this is a good swing at drumming up some fun and making your organization an even better place to be.
