There was a time I saw a woman in my industry as pure competition. She had everything—success, admiration, deep relationships. I didn’t want to like her. But one day, she stopped me to thank me, sincerely. She didn’t need to. Her kindness floored me—and flipped something in me. That one moment made me realize I’d been learning from her all along.
The Trap
As leaders, we’re wired to compare, compete, and protect our position. That mindset makes it easy to dismiss someone else’s success instead of studying it. We think, “She doesn’t get it,” or “He’s just lucky,” instead of asking, “What is this person doing right?” The ego says resist. But the real trap? Missing the opportunity to evolve because you’re too proud to emulate someone you once saw as a threat.
The Fix
Pay attention to the people who get the results you want. Do they invest in people? Show up with humility? Speak life into others without being asked? Emulate that. Watch how they lead, not just what they accomplish. And then flip the lens: Who’s watching you? Whether you know it or not, someone on your team is quietly learning from how you treat others, lead through stress, and respond when no one’s watching.
Your Challenge
So today, I challenge you: Drop the ego. Look for greatness in the people around you—even those you didn’t expect. Emulate their strengths, and multiply your own impact.