When everyone looks up to you, who calls you out on your bullshit?

You’ve built an empire.

Your name commands respect, and your success speaks for itself.

People look up to you, seeking your advice, approval, and even validation.

But who’s telling you when you’re wrong?

If you don’t have someone to do that, you’re not leading as powerfully as you think.

And deep down, you probably know it.

In today’s issue, we’ll explore the gap between success and accountability, and how you can close the gap for limitless growth.

??? Even the Greatest Needed a Challenger

Let’s talk about Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer.

At the peak of his career, Ali was surrounded by people who adored him, friends who wanted to bask in his glory, journalists who glorified his every word, and fans who saw him as untouchable.

But Ali, for all his confidence, knew something vital about success.

He needed someone who wasn’t dazzled by his fame.

Meet Angelo Dundee, his trainer and one of the few people who wasn’t afraid to correct him, push him, or even call him out.

Dundee pushed Ali hard because he saw that even the “Greatest” wasn’t immune to complacency.

When Ali was training for his fight against George Foreman in Za?re, his entourage doubted his unusual strategy. They said it couldn’t work.

But Dundee demanded Ali stick to his vision and, more importantly, to his discipline.

And Ali’s famous “rope-a-dope” move made Foreman tired, resulting in one of the most spectacular wins in boxing history.

So what if no one was there to hold Ali accountable?

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This morning, another edition of my newsletter landed in subscribers' mailboxes - did you get it?

If not, you missed how having people who challenge your blind spots can help you:

1. See the cracks in your ideas
2. Make sharper, ego-free decisions
3. Stay aligned with your goals and values
4. Build deeper relationships through honesty

You can read it here. And make sure to subscribe (it's free) so you don’t miss it next week.