Day TwentyFive: Who the?
People matter most.
More than metrics. More than profit. More than the shiny vision deck or the strategic plan.
At the end of the day, what we’re building, whether it’s a business, a church, a movement, or a family, comes down to people. And, how we treat each other is what makes or breaks the whole thing.
You can hit every number, scale every system, and still lose the plot if you lose your people. Because it’s not just about performance. It’s about presence.
Leadership, at its core, starts with relationships, real, honest, human connection. Trust isn’t built in boardrooms or dashboards. It’s built in conversations, in showing up, in listening when it would be easier to move on.
The truth is: everything rises and falls on how we treat each other.
Culture isn’t something we create and then forget. It’s the sum total of our everyday interactions.
Or, as one client recently reminded me, it’s how we do what we do, and what we allow. It’s how we handle tension, how we honor people behind their backs, how we show grace in failure and humility in success.
So, yes, the work matters. Yes, results matter. But the way we get there matters more.
Because when people feel seen, heard, and valued, they show up differently. They bring their full selves. They take risks. They grow. And, when they grow, everything else grows with them.
You want to build something that lasts? Start with people. You want a team that thrives? Lead with relationships.
Because at the heart of all great leadership is this simple truth: People matter most.
Always have. Always will.
Mantra \ Prayer:
May I be fully present and really lean in today.
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Steve Knox | San Jose, CA