Unless your family name is on the front door of your office complex, it will probably take much effort over a protracted period of time to become the big boss. Why do it? Or said another way, what motivations will help you keep up the focused and perhaps extreme effort for the time required?
Having the best office, more compensation, being able to call the shots, more control over your schedule, your jokes being funnier, and always being seated at the head table are a few of the nice trimmings of CEO, but consistently putting forth the effort to get the top job will require more and deeper perceived benefits than that for most. Where do you look for the more sustaining motivations?
Notice that the benefits on the short list above are self-focused. The more sustainable motives are focused on other people. Taking care of and offering value to customers, helping your team members be effective, assuring profit and progress for the business owners, being responsible members of the marketplace and communities where you operate are great examples of the higher calling that not only will call you to better internal choices, but will appeal to those who work with you. Of course over time your associates will see your thought processes unfold whether good or bad. When views like these guide your thinking and internal motivation, it is easier to access your extra capacity and sustain the drive to find the right innovations, improved efficiency, and thought leadership that will lead ever upward to your goal.
A definite side benefit of this other-focus is that you enjoy the trip more and wherever this approach leads you…to the top job or somewhere close, it is more satisfying. Others first, then me!
