The Lonely Leaf.

I’ll admit, success can look lonely at times. Sometimes we can even feel that we are the only leaf on the tree. Sometimes, that is because we may be focused on the wrong thing. Success is kind of like climbing a mountain. You’d never climb a mountain with a crowd. Yes, there may be a crowd at first. But then it thins out and you end up climbing with one or two others that climb at your pace. You may look ahead and aspire to be higher at times as well. You also may look below and feel good about your pace in the climb. But once all climbers reach the top, everyone is created equal, no matter how long it takes to get there. Such is our search for the top in our field.

There are two types of people racing toward whatever may be set in their minds as success. The first type only care deeply about the person in the mirror. Yes, the goal is always the top of a particular field, but the ones focused on themselves lose sight of the journey to the top and become hyper focused on “the end”. Sometimes even stepping over people, fracturing relationships, and selling out to whatever gets them there quicker.

The second type, elevate other people to reach their goals, reach back to assist those who need wisdom, and generally encourage those around them to be better. This person enjoys the journey and is enriched in helping others. They also understand, there really isn’t an “end” so to speak. When they reach their objectives, they set new goals to chase after. This keeps them humble and understanding that they still need to be learning to reach for the next set of new goals.

The view from the top is the same for all. It is breathtaking and worth it. No one will care how long it took you to get there. It is certainly more fulfilling if we can help someone else enjoy the view with us. As J.F.K. said “a rising tide raises all boats”. The journey may feel lonely at times, but once you are enjoying the view from the top, you will be in good company. So peak past yourself and see all of the leaves that are working hard to move the wind.

Author: ebtgains

Stephen is a seasoned leader in the automotive industry. He has a unique blend of achieving results, with an extremely high level of satisfaction for both the guest and the employee. Having a solid background in service and parts, there is a daily sense of urgency to maximize each opportunity. He is a process driven GM for a public automotive group with a passion for personal and professional growth. He is always maximizing EBT opportunities and is open and willing to share ideas and results. View all posts by ebtgains