We are living in a culture that has drifted from its true north.
Do this exercise with me: Name the top three "leaders" that pop into your head. Go. Now, look at that list. What defines them? If we are honest, most of those names are defined by their bank accounts or their business empires. Since the 1980s, we have been conditioned to equate "leadership" with "financial conquest."
There is nothing wrong with making money. If that is your path, own it. But we cannot pretend that financial accumulation is the pinnacle of human success. It is not enough.
I recently stepped into a role as a full-time coach and leader, and I fell in love with it. But when I looked for others to join me—to step up and lead—I was met with silence. Not a single hand went up. Why? Because everyone understands the unspoken truth: True leadership requires sacrifice.
Most people are willing to work hard for their own success, but very few are willing to sacrifice that personal glory for the success of the team. We see this void everywhere—from Wall Street to Washington, from corporate boardrooms to our own neighborhoods. We have become a society focused inward, fighting only for our own families.
But we are called to be bigger than that.
We need a shift. We need people brave enough to say that success isn't just about what you keep; it's about what you give. We have a leadership void, and it is waiting for people with the courage to fill it.
Step up. Be better. Lead.