I had a huge realization today at work. It was like a light switched on:

It’s ME! I’m the leader I’ve always needed, the one I’ve always had, and the one I want to keep being.

My job is totally driven by metrics. It’s all about dial volume, hitting a quota, and revenue closed. I’ve hit my targets, but the honest truth is that the real joy and my personal success don’t come from those numbers. They come from being a supportive teammate and a good coworker.

Escaping the Scoreboard

I had an amazing moment today with my colleague who just closed a big deal. Her victory was well earned, and my immediate response wasn’t comparison or jealousy. It was just pure, genuine happiness for her success. I sent her a message telling her she was awesome and congratulating her on her patience with the client.

It made me remember that famous Maya Angelou quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That’s the entire lesson. That’s what’s supposed to click.

In these high pressure, metric driven jobs, we get so focused on a title or a dollar amount as validation. I was so hung up on a possible internal promotion (like LCP) to prove my worth that I missed the fact that I was already leading in my own way, every single day.

Leadership isn’t a title granted by a manager. It’s how you act. It’s the kindness and positive energy you put out.

My goal now is clear: I’m going to do my job efficiently to pay the bills, but I’m going to focus my real energy on treating everyone well. I’m a leader now. I don’t have to wait for a promotion to be a great one. I know I’m great with people, and if my current employer doesn’t see that as valuable, that’s okay.

I’m the leader I’ve been waiting for. And that’s a win that nothing can take away.