LEAD August 2021 | Page 56

everything possible to fulfill his duty , bears as much responsibility as he can , but Sam never lets him do it alone . Sam never leaves his side . He never abandons his partner and friend .
That ’ s what makes Samwise Gamgee the hero of the story . Sam , the loyal steward and best friend of Frodo , is the only reason the One Ring to rule them all makes it all the way to Mordor . Through every up and down , twist and turn , Sam is there to advance the mission and to keep the goal of safely returning home in sight .
Frodo was brave , but he was nothing without Sam . He never would have made it alone .
This story , to me , encapsulates the importance of having a great business partner . The journey of an entrepreneur is a lonely one . The results and outcomes rest on the shoulders of the business leader . But doing it alone is a fool ’ s game .
I have philosophical and practical reasons for believing in partnership . Philosophically , I believe God designed us to be in relationship with other people . Whether you look at Matthew 18:20 , where Jesus says , “ Where two or three gather in my name , there am I with them ,” or at the idea from Ecclesiastes 4:12 that “ a cord of three strands is not quickly broken ,” there ’ s no
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