Why do we become entrepreneurs? Is it because we know that when we work for ourselves we have the ability to make as much money as we want? Is it because we are leaders and we want to be our own boss? Is it to have full control on how we desire to live our lives, according to no body's rules but ours?
The answer simply put is: YES.
There are many reasons why certain people decide to dive in head first and make it on their own. As Sinatra so eloquently said "I did it my way!" and my way can many times mean the highway for certain people who don't resonate with our values or the way we get things done. However as much as we all love to be in control (or in the illusion of control) there comes a time where we have to check ourselves and look at the bigger picture.
Humility is a profound trait, one that will lead us down a path filled with discomfort and possibly even some physical pain as a result (ever feel sick to your stomach when you know you are losing control over any given situation?). However in the end, no one ever comes out worse off for being humble and throwing down their "crown" for the sake of the greater good.
There is no one who loves to take the reigns more than I do, I mean my logo in my agency, U2R1 Media Inc. even has a crown and it means something, it stands for experience and the ultimate leadership. So when that part of my ego gets challenged it can make me cringe inside. It's those moments that I either decide to react or remember that their is a lesson waiting to be unveiled, and the lesson is usually the same. There is always going to be a time in life where we have to set aside our ego and let other people lead. This is an opportunity that we will constantly face as leaders, to challenge our humility and take a back seat in order to learn, grow and be even better than before.
The best leaders are always learning from people who have been there and done that more often than they have. We can't get to new heights and new levels of success by always thinking that there is no one out there who possibly knows better or has seen more that we can learn from. So when new opportunities arise that I can see myself benefiting and growing from under other leadership, I digress and set my crown aside while I use these new experiences to make me a better business woman and a stronger marketer.
I'm sure that I will continuously be facing the "twisties" in my stomach as I tame the beast within, BUT at the end of the day showing a little humility will go a long way and I'm sure will benefit me more than always roaring like a lion.
The irony is that the older you get the less you will actually know. Why? because as you know, it is much harder to keep up with the advancements of technology and our industry and it's more comfortable to stay in "what we know." Younger people will always have more energy and more time to explore the newest innovation. It must be very difficult for the top C-level executives who must learn from their younger counterparts, the Millennials who understand the new ways of the world.
A smart leader knows how to align themselves with good people, people who can make them look like great roll models. Age and experience only takes you so far before you have to start learning all over again. Recognizing the best times to throw down your crown will likely save you a lot of stress battling the "who knows best" war and gain you even more respect in the long run.
