“…the strength of the pack is the Wolf and the strength of the Wolf is the pack.” ~ from Rudyard Kipling’s The Second Jungle Book

Those who know me would tell you about my focus on improving daily. I strive to improve my craft, become a better listener, and grow in my ability to lead myself and influence others.

I’m constantly looking for others ahead of me on that journey so I can learn from them. I’m so grateful for any feedback; it’s all fuel for growth.

This pursuit might appear selfish from the outside. I spend significant time reflecting on what happened and what I want to do differently. But since I can only control myself—my actions, reactions, beliefs, and emotions—I put a lot of focus there!

But I can’t travel alone.

I have a mission that goes way beyond myself or what I can accomplish alone. I need a vast network of support if I’m going to make any measurable difference in the world. 

My guess is that you are in a similar situation. You have big dreams and a mission that’s bigger than you. How do you balance your time between focusing on yourself and what you can do to improve your team, clients, and collaborators to make an impact together?

Work on yourself first.

For me, personal mastery comes first.

Even with the most potent collaborators, I’m not going to achieve my mission if I’m not sharp and focused and keep my spirit, mind, and body healthy. The better my mastery, the more I’ll attract other collaborators who are also pushing themselves at a high level. My track record of success is critical to building trust for bigger endeavors.

In service of others

As part of that, I need to consider how I can be the person who makes the others around me better. Just as Michael Jordan improved the play of his teammates and George Washington elevated the thinking and being of others around him, part of my self-improvement is learning how to be more influential and how to lead more effectively.

If I only care about my own agenda or mission, then all that time and effort is selfish. If I optimize for “I’m #1” (or, my company is #1, my tribe is #1, or my country is #1). I create opposition. It’s a zero-sum game; there’s only one #1.

But knowing that “it takes a village,” I can dedicate my work on self-improvement to the greater mission I’m undertaking with my partners and community. If “I’m working to be my best so that we can all rise,” then folks can root for me, I can accept help, and I can build a team.

Do you have a clear priority for caring for and working on yourself? How do you “put your oxygen mask on first, before assisting others?”