Others before You

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch

Welcome to the Ambsdr Village.

Where we're all welcoming. Inclusive. Friendly. Always looking out for others. Illuminating each other's journeys with laughter, love and light.

A whole new paradigm. Where 'we' comes before 'me'. Where serving others with your talent, gifts and generosity is truly embodied, and not just a cute quote on Pinterest.

You are entering a whole new world with a different moral code that is focused on creating brands and businesses that truly edify people.

Regardless of whether you're a politician, a music label, a baby products brand or a killer startup.

In the Ambsdr mindset, 'you' is only relevant when it comes to preparing yourself - grinding, working hard, maximising your potential ... in preparation for true servant leadership - in service to others.

The reality is that becoming a brand that consumers worldwide are drawn to, means putting others first, while uplifting them. Research also supports this. A recent Accenture report found that companies who act fairly and show a vested interest in improving the world as well as communicate their ethics clearly are more likely to see consumers spend with them.

Which is contrary to what we sometimes see play out in the media, on Instagram and in the public sphere.

Without being preachy, when building your brand, you need to lead with others in mind. To bring people together under an umbrella of shared values, hopes and aspirations.

It's an unpretentious, gracious and highly admirable aesthetic that is irresistible.

Granted putting others first – your family, clients, business partners, employees, fans and followers - can be exhausting.

It can be painful, arduous, and largely thankless. And there’s no shortage of people ready to take advantage of your servant heart.

Yet the payoff is enormous. It’s the leaders and entrepreneurs with true servant hearts who leaves a legacy and reputation that lasts.

Putting others first when building a brand and business can be a lonely road, but understanding where your value, energy, motivation, and even boundaries come from, will help to ground you in a place where you will never find yourself completely empty.

And over time, you’ll be enabled to impact even more people from a place of strength and compassion.

Insight Inspiration:

So how do you navigate counting others as more significant than ourselves without losing yourself?

In other words, is it possible to be meek without being walked over?

1. Find your worth in what truly matters.

First, in order to be confidently sacrificial, you must be confident in your true value. “Oftentimes people are sacrificial in order to feel valuable — either internally (to themselves) or externally (to the world).

But we can never do enough to fill the giant void that the craving for self-worth creates. While we may have moments when our sacrifice is emotionally rewarding, those moments are fleeting and insufficient.

We will inevitably find ourselves empty and hurt.” Your need to find your worth in your skills, your talent, your heart, your soul and your indomitable spirit. And in realising that those innate qualities can never be taken away from you.

Only then, will you be able to serve others without the fear of losing yourself. Your value comes from what is inside you and anchoring yourself to a belief both in yourself and in the generous, beautiful energy of a planet that waited so breathlessly for you.

2. Set Boundaries.

Not every relationship or situation that requires self-sacrifice is in itself sustainable.

If someone lacks the same love and respect you show them, you need to consider walking away and focus your energies on those who uplift and empower your journey, while not taking advantage of your giving heart.

However, don’t rush to erect those boundaries.

Don’t act out of bitterness, anger or fear and push away those who hurt you. Realise instead that they may be there to grow you.

Make your decision wisely, over time and with great care because building walls can be just as damaging as not building a boundary at all.

And when you do draw a boundary, make sure it’s permeable. Become a brand leader who facilitates forgiveness, ceasefires and peace.

We need more healing and reconciliation in this world, not less.

Think on it.