“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you” – John Wooden
In the pursuit of growth, success, and significance, the journey is often marked by challenges, setbacks, and the need for relentless determination. Those who have truly succeeded share a common thread. They possess the resilience to overcome adversities and are willing to make the necessary sacrifices.
I have probably said this a thousand times if not more over the course of my leadership journey. Everything worthwhile is uphill! The more I think about it, the more I know it’s true. Whether you’re talking about personal growth, personal health, business or some other aspect of life, nothing of real value is easy. The precious things in life require something in exchange. If it seems easy, it’s probably wrong. If it seems hard, it’s probably right.
The best leaders are very much well aware of the need to sacrifice. The decisions leaders face almost always include some measure of giving up something in order to gain something. For growing leaders, life is always a set of scales that need balancing.
I think about as a parent, the sacrifices we are willing to make for our kiddos. As a busy leader and entrepreneur, the sacrifices my wife has made for herself to support the hustle and journey. As a follower of God, I think about the sacrifice that Jesus made to pay the price for our eternity.
This weekend, I had the privilege to deliver a talk at Lawntrepreneur Academy Live 2023! After my delivery, and during a breakout mastermind, I noticed a trend in the questions being asked by many attendees. Their personal and professional growth boils down to so many of them being afraid, or just choosing to not make sacrifices on what is currently good, or what they’re comfortable with, to work towards achieving something great. Those willing to sacrifice are seeing the fruits, and those not willing to take the risks and give up the good for great are not where they want to be. My voice will be recovering for a few days to say the least!
As leaders in our homes, businesses, and organizations, we are called to make tough choices for ourselves, and on behalf of our people. Sometimes the sacrifices are obvious and pretty simple. Sometimes the sacrifices are harder and more draining on us. Sleepless nights. Time with friends. Dinners as a family. Vacations. Not paying yourself. You have to cut expenses in order to keep the company going. You have to admit your Team made a mistake or screwed up a project. Or even sometimes having to admit that you made a bad choice as a leader and cost the company a bunch of money!
Regardless of whatever the sacrifice, every leader must be willing to make them, because leaders are expected to pay the prices others won’t pay. That’s what makes you the leader! But it’s not just about making the hard decisions. Good leaders make the hard decisions when they need to be made.
As we shared stories of success, and stories of struggles this weekend, I noticed that behind every success story shared of today, laid a tale of sacrifice in the past. Success requires prioritizing your goals over immediate gratifications. It might mean sacrificing personal time, leisure activities, or even your comfort. Whether it’s those late nights working on a project or forgoing short-term pleasures for long-term gains, we HAVE to understand the value of making sacrifices.
Here is what I know… To succeed, we must embrace the journey with all its ups and downs. The ebbs and flows of growth! It requires resilience to weather storms, determination to keep moving forward, and sacrifices to invest in your future. The path to success is not easy, but those willing to make sacrifices find a way to overcome adversities and emerge victorious. If it was easy, everyone would do it (Yep, I went there with that colloquial saying)!! So, the question still remains here: Do you have what it takes to succeed? Are you willing to overcome adversities and make the necessary sacrifices? The answer lies within you, waiting to be discovered on your journey to growth and success.
I challenge you, in your growth as a leader, to be willing to face – and even embrace – sacrifice when it is called for, to help your people and organization thrive. I believe that no matter how challenging it might become, you will end up realizing that it was worth it to take your life and leadership to the next level.