Confidence Without Competence

Early in my career, I was told to race to the top - work harder than everyone else - say yes more - outperform - climb.

And I got there - or close enough to see it clearly - I realized something unsettling. Not everyone at the top belongs there. You see decisions disconnected from reality. Egos can be louder than results. There was confidence without competence.

That moment can either be discouraging or clarifying. Because I learned that titles do not equal leadership. Position doesn’t guarantee perspective. And the climb itself doesn’t automatically produce wisdom.

The real question becomes do you want to be at the top or do you want to be effective? Some of the best leaders I’ve worked with weren’t the loudest in the room or the highest on the org chart - they earned trust - they understood the work - they made others better.

If you’ve ever looked up and thought, “How did we end up here?” - you’re not alone. Let that realization sharpen your standards, not dull your ambition. Climb with integrity. Lead with substance.