“Spartans! What is your profession??”
“AROO! AROO! AROO!”
In 300, Leonidus, king of the Spartans was leading his men to battle the Persian king Xerxes.
On his way to Thermopylae to make their final stand for Sparta and their way of life, he meets a group of militia men from another place.
They want to join the Spartans in battle.
Leonidus then asks a few of these men what their professions were. One says potter. Another says sculpter.
Leonidus turns to his men and asks the same question, which they respond with a proud and resounding “AROO! AROO! AROO!”
What does it mean?
In the movie, it demonstrated a few things:
The Spartan identity went far deeper than “profession”
The Spartans were unified in their loyalty to their country and way of life
The Spartans were ready to kill and die for their beliefs
Fast forward to 2924, and Spartan race has made the “AROO!” the battle cry a group of racers shout prior to completing the obstacle course race.
The stakes are not near the same, Spartan is a business, and it can feel a little hokey.
But hey, it's a fun way to get everyone fired up and on the same page for something challenging.
It also inspires me to think about what values, principles, and beliefs mean more to me than whatever I'm told by some business or popular culture.
What if we upheld a higher standard?
What if we had a greater respect for another's way of living, even if it was different?
What if we took ownership of our own health and well being and sought the best for others?
What if we showed others we believed in them, even when they struggled to believe in themselves?
What would that look like?
As a celebration of my brother and I’s second Spartan race together, let's A.R.O.O.
Power Acronym 139: A.R.O.O.
Allegiance
Respect
Ownership
Optimism
AROO!
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