If you ask someone who’s truly successful what they’re most proud of, the answer usually isn’t what you’d expect.

It isn’t…

• The money they’ve made.
• The homes they’ve owned.
• The vacations they’ve taken.
• The businesses they’ve built.
• The awards on the wall.
• The plaques, trophies, or public recognition.
• The rankings or headlines that celebrated their success.

Those things are nice. But they don’t last.

Ask them what really matters, and you’ll hear a different answer.

The greatest satisfaction comes from helping other people become successful.

The best leaders understand something many people never do…

The greatest investment you’ll ever make isn’t in a building, a stock portfolio, or the latest technology.

It’s in people.

Every day you have an opportunity to invest in someone else’s future. You can teach. Coach. Encourage. Challenge. Listen. Believe in them before they believe in themselves.

Leadership isn’t about your title. It’s about your influence.

When people feel they’re growing, they become more engaged. When they’re encouraged, they become more confident. When they’re challenged, they become better. And when people become better, everyone wins.

Here’s the hard part…

Sometimes you’ll invest in someone so well that they leave for a bigger opportunity. That’s not a failure. That’s a compliment.

Shake their hand. Wish them well. Be proud that you played a small part in their journey.

At the end of your career, people won’t remember every deal you made or every award you won.

They’ll remember how you made them better.

So here’s my question…

Who are you investing in today?

— Tommy Gibbs