Leader what are you willing to invest in someone else at no return to myself?

I have been thinking a lot about my career journey and career choices, especially those along my path who took the time to provide guidance. Sitting now, I think about what I want to do in the next chapter of my career and life. I have realized the things that bring me purpose and pleasure. I find the greatest joy in helping others discover themselves and their unique strengths as they achieve their goals. Watching someone come into their own and rediscover their passion for living and doing is the biggest high ever.

Contemplating the transformative power of Investing in Others Without Expectation, I wonder, as leaders, do we truly grasp this potential?

Leadership success is often measured by the growth of a business, the profitability of an organization, or the influence one holds in the corporate world. Leaders who have built their empires or climbed the ladders of corporate giants know the cost of success—sleepless nights, strategic risks, and relentless perseverance: family sacrifices, personal sacrifices. Yet, once the heights of success are reached, other questions emerge: Was it worth it? Could I have done it differently? What do I wish I had known? What type of people do I wish I had in my life to help?

Have you ever asked those questions? If any of those questions have come up for you. Then how about this question: ?What are you willing to invest of yourself and your career/business success in someone else, at no return to yourself, to help them not have so many questions?        

This is not a question about charity or corporate social responsibility but about the essence of leadership that transcends self-interest. It is about the legacy you build not through what you accumulate but through what you give away—your time, your knowledge, your influence, yourself.

The Legacy of Investment

Andrew Carnegie, one of the most successful businessmen of the 19th century, once said, "No man becomes rich unless he enriches others." Carnegie didn't merely preach this philosophy; he lived it, giving away much of his fortune to support education, libraries, and peace efforts. His legacy is not just in the steel industry but in the lives he impacted long after his passing.

In the same vein, modern business leaders increasingly recognize the value of investing in others. Warren Buffet, one of the most successful investors of our time, has often emphasized the importance of nurturing talent and empowering others. He famously said, "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." This quote captures the essence of leadership that looks beyond immediate gains and considers the long-term impact of nurturing others.

Sometimes, someone just needs you to be fully present to hear them and then respond.

That response can be a lifeline or a toxic virus they must fight through. This is why this cannot be manufactured; it has to be genuinely a choice you are making from the heart of who you have become and who you are choosing to be as a leader of people and change.

The Challenge of Selfless Investment

The challenge, however, lies in the act of giving without expecting a return. Mentoring someone is easy when there's a clear benefit to your business or reputation. However, true leadership is tested when you invest in someone with no strings attached and no expectation of recognition or return.

Consider Melinda Gates's words: "Deep human connection is…the purpose and the result of a meaningful life—and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity." Investing in others without expectation fosters deep connections that transcend the transactional nature of most business relationships. It's an investment in humanity that reaps dividends not in dollars but in the growth and success of others.

Why It Matters

So why should you, a successful leader, consider this kind of investment? The answer lies in the impact on the broader community and the world we leave behind. When you invest in others, you contribute to creating new leaders, new businesses, and new opportunities. You're not just multiplying success; you're amplifying the potential for positive change.

The late Nelson Mandela, a leader who understood the importance of investing in others, said, "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."

As leaders, our true measure of success lies not just in what we build for ourselves and the organizations we are part of but in how we equip and inspire others to create their futures. Are you happy to be the model of leadership that someone duplicates?

I can tell you that I want to pretend the leader I was in my twenties and thirties never existed because the model I had duplicated was toxic, competitive, and heartless.

However, the leader I evolved into in my 40s was human-centric and transformational. Why? I learned that professionalism isn't a fragmented bubble that exists outside of the world at large.

People come to work as part of their life. I have a responsibility to care for the whole person. My biometric leadership model may be different from yours. But if I ask you what your leadership biometric is, could you answer? Have you actually ever given it any thought?        

The Call to Action

As you reflect on your journey and your success, ask yourself:?What am I willing to invest in someone else at no return to myself?

This investment could be mentoring a young entrepreneur, sharing your knowledge with aspiring leaders, or even supporting initiatives that foster the growth of others. It's about giving back in a meaningful and impactful way, not for the recognition but for the difference it makes in someone else's life.

Leadership is not just about guiding those who can help you achieve your goals; it's about lifting those who may never be able to repay you. It's about planting trees under whose shade you may never sit but knowing that the world is better for it.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." May your leadership journey be not only a path of personal success but also a beacon of hope, growth, and empowerment for those who follow in your footsteps.