Leaders step out in front, which is an ideal place to be criticized. Leaders take responsibility, which attracts people looking for someone to blame. Leaders make change, which makes a lot of people mad. Leaders announce “I’m starting this” which is often followed by “It didn’t work.” Leaders trust team members, some of whom will drop the ball, lie, steal, or worse.

Sometimes leaders are mistreated by the very people they took on all of the above for. Sometimes being a leader is no fun at all. Sometimes I question whether leadership is worth it.

If your goals are safety from criticism and freedom from responsibility, leadership will disappoint you.

If your goals are influence and opportunity to do things that matter, leadership will multiply your efforts like nothing else can.

If your goals are influence and opportunity and safety and freedom, it’s not gonna happen.

As for me, I want to live a life of influence and difference-making more than I want to live a comfortable life. So yes, I say leadership is worth it.