Leadership comes with a backpack. And the higher you climb, the heavier it gets.
Inside that backpack are burdens few people see and blessings even fewer people will ever fully understand.
There’s the pressure of making payroll, the responsibility for employees and their families, the uncertainty surrounding difficult decisions, and the occasional sleepless night wondering whether you’re getting it right.
Then there are the blessings: Building something meaningful. Creating opportunities. Watching people grow. Experiencing the freedom that comes from turning a vision into reality.
It’s quite a load, and here’s something I’ve learned from working with business owners and CEOs: The people who depend on your leadership aren’t always the people who can help you grow as a leader.
That’s not a criticism of your team, your spouse, or your friends. It’s simply an acknowledgment that leadership creates a unique set of experiences.
You need people who understand the weight of that backpack because they’re carrying one themselves.
The paradox of leadership is you need a TRIBE of other leaders.
Here’s a question worth considering:
What if the very independence that helped you become successful is now preventing you from becoming extraordinary?
Think about it. Entrepreneurs are celebrated for their resourcefulness, determination, and ability to figure things out. But somewhere along the journey, self-reliance can quietly become self-isolation.
You become the person everyone turns to for answers. Yet, who do you turn to when you don’t have them?
The strongest leaders aren’t necessarily the ones with the best answers. They’re the ones courageous enough to surround themselves with people who ask better questions.
As Marcus Aurelius observed, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Sometimes, the obstacle standing in your way is your unwillingness to let someone challenge your thinking.
Your TRIBE should make you better, not just feel better
A great peer group isn’t a collection of cheerleaders. It’s a circle of trusted leaders committed to helping one another become better.
Here’s what that looks like through five essential commitments.
T: Trust Before Truth. Honest conversations require psychological safety. When trust exists, difficult feedback becomes an opportunity rather than a threat.
R: Rethink Your Assumptions. Your experience is valuable, but it can also become a blind spot. Surround yourself with people who respectfully challenge what you believe to be true.
I: Invite Accountability. Most CEOs are excellent at holding others accountable. But who’s holding you accountable to your commitments, especially the ones that matter outside the office?
B: Bring the Whole Backpack. Your professional and personal lives aren’t separate identities. They’re interconnected parts of who you are. Your health, relationships, happiness, and purpose deserve attention alongside revenue and profitability.
E: Elevate Every Victory. Celebrate the record quarter, absolutely! But also celebrate the leader who finally takes a vacation, repairs a strained relationship, or becomes more present with family.
Success should enrich your life, not consume it.
Consider this uncomfortable possibility. What if your business is achieving its goals, but you’re quietly falling short of your own? You promised yourself you’d get healthier. Spend more time with your spouse. Be present for your children. Rediscover something you genuinely enjoy. Yet another quarter passes. Another deadline appears. Another personal commitment gets postponed.
Here’s the paradox: The freedom you desire often comes from the accountability you’ve been avoiding.
The right TRIBE won’t simply ask how your business performed last month. They’ll ask how YOU performed against the life you said you wanted. And they’ll care enough to remember your answer.
Success Is Better When It’s Shared
There’s something remarkable about sitting with people who understand your challenges without requiring a lengthy explanation, people who can challenge you without diminishing you, and who can celebrate your accomplishments without competing with you.
Imagine being surrounded by people who recognize that your greatest breakthrough might not be a business milestone. It might be becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be.
That’s the power of belonging to the right TRIBE.
This week, I challenge you to do three things.
First, identify one burden you’ve been carrying alone.
Second, connect with someone who has earned the right to challenge your thinking. Share what’s really happening, not just the polished version.
Third, make one meaningful commitment to improving your business or personal life, and invite that person to hold you accountable.
Then ask yourself:
If I surrounded myself with people who consistently challenged my thinking, supported my growth, and celebrated my victories, who could I become over the next five years?
Don’t let that question become another interesting thought you never act upon.
Find your TRIBE. Invite the challenge. Embrace the accountability. Celebrate the journey.
Because the goal isn’t simply to build a more successful business. It’s to become a more successful human being along the way. And you don’t have to make that climb alone.
Make it up, make it fun, and get it done!
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#1 Bestselling author Machen MacDonald, CPCC, CCSC is an award-winning business coach with ProBrilliance Leadership Institute in Grass Valley, CA. He is also a VISTAGE CEO Peer Advisory Chair. He helps professionals and leaders bring their “A” Game to their Hero’s Journey. He can be reached at Machen@ProBrilliance.com and 530-273-8000