On December 17th, 2015 I gave my valedictory address in Singapore to an auditorium filled with the INSEAD Global Executive MBA graduating class of 2015. Yours truly, was one of them.
If at anytime in my life did I feel special, well this was one of those moments.
INSEAD was recently ranked #1 MBA program and #1 single EMBA program in the world by the Financial Times for 2016. I’m not saying that to brag, but only to support the feeling of just how big of a deal this was for me.
As puzzled as I still am as to how lucky I was to represent the smartest and most successful group of individuals I have ever met in one place, I learned something in the process that really put so much into perspective, and that is ladies and gentlemen; the power of the crowd.
As I stood there addressing my class along with several hundred other people both streaming live and in the room, I rewound to a moment in life that was critical in getting me to where I was that very second.
That speech wasn’t just about me and my take on earning such a prestigious degree nor was it only about the journey and sacrifice so many like me had gone to attain it.
In that moment and in the presence of the crowd, it was about our present and our futures collectively intertwined and linked to one another.
What I said up there (you can view the full speech if you feel like it below) is really secondary to how I got up there in the first place.
I was given the honor and responsibility to represent my class through a majority vote and that by itself meant that it was not just about a speech, but more about what it was I stood for and how I would embody a vast array of emotions and aspirations both for the present moment and for the future.
If you haven’t heard the saying “It’s not what you say, but how you make people feel,” well it couldn’t be more true. For me it was the power of the crowd that listened in eager prolonged silence that made me feel the responsibility of being the best version of myself.
The power of the crowd not only made me my best self, but my ideal self.
Imagine this:
Imagine a group of people that depend on you financially, emotionally, at work, and as a leader. For some it’s a walk in the park. Super easy. For others take a moment to gather those faces in your mind to visualize.
Remember, there could be hundreds or even thousands of these people and there also could be just one, yes the man/woman in the mirror (YOU). It all applies.
Now ask yourself this, “Are these people dependent on my success?” I’ll bet many of you answered, “I better be successful otherwise Santa won’t be coming around this year…what’s your point?”
Let’s take it a step further but also a step closer to the powerful message I want to share with you.
Now ask yourselves, “Am I more or less motivated to be successful because of the presence of these people in my life?” I’ll bet most of you said more. Phew!
How does this apply to our lives today and more importantly how can it lead to more genuine and enriching moments?
Well, if we know that there is more motivation to be our ideal selves when people we ourselves depend on (the crowd) then why not create one of the most powerful stories for yourselves going forward?
When the crowd cheers you on you go on. When it says “encore” you do more. When it believes in your best possible self, you must believe so too!
Having a crowd rally around you that wants you to succeed is having the power and motivation to do extraordinary things.
And so this is your challenge: Find your crowd. Unearth your power.
So much of the satisfaction and success in business and in life is measured by the contribution you and you alone can give to a crowd that truly wants you to succeed. You’ve got to believe that. It’s that way of thinking that adds to the recipe of great leaders and game changers in this world.
When we realize that success isn’t just about us individually but an impact to all those around us that feed into the greater satisfactions in life, that has the potential to bring out something truly extraordinary.
Try saying to yourself, “it’s about my coworkers, my company, my people, my community, my family, my kids…” Find the crowd that will cheer you on and push you through the emotional barriers of uncertainty. Again; find your crowd. Unearth your power.
The happiness of those around you is dependent on that of your own as well.
Why is it so lonely at the top? From my experience interacting with successful CEO’s and business owners that feel this way, I can say with certainty that one major contributing factor is that they forgot just who they were working for…the power of their crowd either changed, moved on, or disappeared and they simply lost their way in finding it again.
No matter what size bank account you have access to, when you only work for yourself, I can promise that you are much more likely to get lonely or feel less fulfilled with the achievements you have made.
But if you really embraced the fact that the success of your business or workplace wasn’t just about you, well, what would you do? How would you act going forward?
The moment we realize the impact we truly have on so many people is real, is the moment we can get real in becoming better, healthier, and more positive contributors.
Find yourselves cheerleaders that make your journey include more than just one person–a crowd that gives you the power to be more than just who you are now but who you really want to be.
The power of the crowd is waiting. Open that curtain of doubt, start with that most important first step on the stage of business and in life and your eagerness to find it will match with those willing to cheer you on. I say this with conviction because I’m living proof.
I was lucky to realize this at INSEAD and now I am passing this on to you.
Find your crowd. Unearth your power.
Ramy Ballout
Entrepreneur & Business Coach