“True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” Sheri L. Dew

Every part of the United States has its own “isms” that make that area unique.  If you’ve either grown up in the South, or spent any significant time there, you’ve heard sayings that sound strange at first but carry deep meaning. One such saying might’ve come from a more “mature” person like a grandfather: “Boy, if you’re walking down the road and you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn’t get there by himself.”

Getting Help!

You probably didn’t understand it at the time. But as you’ve matured, the meaning may have become clearer. That turtle didn’t climb the post. Someone placed it there. And that simple truth carries a powerful leadership lesson.

In life, you’ll reach many places as a result of your own effort. But some achievements and accomplishments are beyond personal effort and require help. You’ll find yourself on fence posts you couldn’t reach alone. That’s not weakness—it’s reality. Leadership isn’t a solo journey. It’s a shared path, paved by sacrifice, support, and grace.

John Maxwell once said, “There is no success without sacrifice. If you have succeeded in life, it’s either because you sacrificed to get there, or someone sacrificed in your place.” That turtle didn’t sacrifice anything to reach the top, but someone did.

Your Journey

Think about your own journey. Who helped you get where you are today? Maybe it was a parent who believed in you. Maybe it was a teacher who saw your potential. Maybe it was a friend who stood by you when others walked away. Maybe it was a spouse who carried the weight when you couldn’t. Or maybe it was a grandfather who planted seeds of wisdom you didn’t understand until years later.

Take a moment to reflect. Don’t rush past this valuable opportunity to grow as a leader. Sit with it. Let the names come to mind. Write one of those names on a piece of paper. Tape it to your bathroom mirror or your car’s rearview mirror. Say their name out loud. And if you can, tell them thank you.

Thankful Hearts

Gratitude is a leadership discipline. It keeps you grounded. It reminds you that your success isn’t yours alone. It’s built on the shoulders of others. And when you recognize that, you lead with humility, not pride.  Leaders who operate from a position of gratitude often have significant potential to have influence on those around them.  People want to feel better about themselves and the world around them.  Operating from a spirit of gratitude results in an environment that makes people feel better.

But Don’t Stop There

Leadership isn’t just about acknowledging who helped you. It’s about becoming that person for someone else. It’s about lifting turtles.

Who’s coming behind you? Who’s watching your example? Who’s struggling to climb a post they can’t reach alone? You have the opportunity to be the hand that lifts them. You can sacrifice your time, your energy, your wisdom, your resources. You can invest in someone else’s success.

Influence

That’s legacy! That’s leadership! And that’s how you become the kind of person who someone else tapes your name to their mirror.

You don’t need a title to lead this way. You don’t need a platform. You just need a willingness to serve. You just need eyes to see the turtles around you. You just need a heart that remembers the fence posts you didn’t reach alone.

Leadership isn’t loud. It’s not always public. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s behind the scenes. Sometimes it’s a conversation, a prayer, a gift, a moment of presence. Sometimes it’s simply showing up. No matter the way you, it always matters.

Reflect, Remember, and Respond

Reflect on your journey. Identify the people who helped you. Write their names. Speak their names. Thank them.

Then respond by helping someone else. Look for the turtles. Lift them. Sacrifice for them. Invest in them.

Because one day, they’ll look back and realize they didn’t get there by themselves. And your name will come to mind.

That’s the kind of leader you’re called to be.  That’s the kind of legacy worth leaving.

“The most beautiful people are those who bring out the beauty in others” Matahons Dhliwayo