“A-Players don’t need to be told what to do – they find ways to add value.”
– Dan Martell
Leadership is a journey. It’s a journey up a mountain. Every day, we’re either climbing or sliding. Every choice we make, every action we take, either brings us closer to the peak or pulls us further from it. The goal is to always be climbing – never sliding backward. The moment we start sliding, even just a little, we risk becoming a burden to those around us, hindering their climb, and holding them back from their potential.
This principle applies not only in leadership but in every area of our lives – to our teams, our clients, and ourselves. The moment we stop being an asset to those around us, we risk losing what we’ve worked hard to build. Whether it’s with our team members, our customers, or in our personal growth, we have a responsibility to always be adding value. This isn’t just a way to climb higher; it’s the way we ensure that everyone around us can climb with us.
I’ll never forget a pivotal moment early in my leadership journey…
We were growing, and I had this desire to grow my leadership skills so I could be the best version of myself for my team. But I realized something important along the way: it wasn’t just about getting better for me. It was about getting better so that everyone I led had the chance to be elevated. The more I improved, the more I could pour into others, and that would allow them to soar higher. That’s the essence of leadership – creating more leaders, not just followers. As I invested in myself, I was building something bigger: a team, culture, a company that could climb higher and higher, each of us lifting one another up along the way. But I also knew one thing: I could NOT let myself become the lid. If I did, there would be no growth, no movement, no opportunity for the people I was leading to rise above their current circumstances.
This principle goes beyond the walls of our organizations and into our relationships with our customers. We must ask ourselves: Are we adding value to our clients? If we’re no longer delivering exceptional service, solving problems proactively, and maintaining the same high standards, we risk losing their trust – and ultimately, their business. Relationships are the foundation of any successful organization, and it’s through consistent value-addition that we build strong, lasting connections with our customers. When we fail to be an asset to them, even in small ways, we risk slipping backward, and the business we’ve worked so hard to develop can quickly slip away.
Being an asset means always being in pursuit of adding value to everyone we serve — whether it’s our team members, customers, or ourselves. So, how do we ensure we’re always adding value and never becoming a burden?
“Don’t bring problems, bring solutions.”
1. Master a Few Things and Be the Best at Them – In leadership, it’s tempting to think we need to be an expert in everything. But the truth is, you’ll be far more valuable when you focus on a few core areas and do them better than anyone else. Find your strengths and sharpen the heck out of them. Don’t waste time trying to be good at everything. It’s not about our span – it’s about depth. Be known for excellence in a select area. When you focus on what matters most, you bring true value. It’s better to be the best at one thing than mediocre at a bunch of things.
“Your job is to create momentum, not slow things down.”
2. Invest in Others’ Growth – If you’re always JUST focused on improving yourself, then you’re missing the bigger picture. The most valuable thing you can do as a leader is elevate others. Bring them up with you. Show them the tools and the mindset to grow. This goes beyond training and skill development; it’s about shaping their mindset, building their confidence, and giving them the autonomy to lead themselves. When you invest in the growth of those around you, you ensure that they’re not just climbing the mountain, but that they can keep climbing even when you’re not present.
“You get paid in direct proportion to the size of the problems you solve.”
3. Stay Committed to Your Own Growth – No matter how high you climb, there’s always room for growth. So many leaders miss this. You’ll never reach a point where you stop improving. It’s easy to become complacent, but it’s critical to never stop growing. Whether it’s reading a book, listening to podcasts, studying Sam’s blogs, learning a new skill, or stepping outside your comfort zone — always look for ways to challenge yourself. If you stop climbing, so do the people around you. As a leader, you’re the example. You’re the influencer. You’re the inspirator. If you slide backward, you risk bringing the whole team with you. Stay committed to your own progress so you can continue to help others rise.
I’ll land the plane with this… Leadership is never a destination; it’s an ongoing journey. Always be climbing. Always be pushing yourself to be better, to be an asset, not a burden. By mastering your craft, investing in others, and staying committed to your own growth, you’ll ensure that you’re always adding value – to your team, to your organization, and of course, to yourself.
In the end, leadership isn’t about how far you can climb on your own, but how far you can take others with you. Choose to be the asset that pulls others upward, and together, we can ALL climb to new levels! When we as leaders get better, we all get to move forward together! And THAT is how you are always an asset!
