We often celebrate leaders for their achievements—the companies they build, the deals they close, the innovations they launch. This is the ‘What’. It’s the visible, tangible outcome that everyone sees. But behind every great ‘What’ is an even greater ‘Why’, and that is the true engine of lasting leadership.
Growing up in Ibadan, I saw this principle in action. The community leaders who were most respected weren’t necessarily the wealthiest; they were the ones whose ‘Why’ was clear: to uplift everyone around them. Their compass was set to ‘True North,’ guided by service, not just success.
So, how do you find your leader’s compass?
1. Look Beyond the Paycheck.
Ask yourself: If money were no object, what problem would I still be driven to solve? For me, the ‘Why’ has always been about people and potential. It’s the thread that connects my mentoring work to Riel Homes. One builds people, the other builds the homes and communities for those people to thrive in. Your ‘Why’ might be creating beauty, fostering justice, or enabling connection. Find it.
2. Your ‘Why’ is Your Anchor.
The business landscape will shift. Markets will fluctuate. Projects will fail. When you are anchored in a powerful ‘Why,’ these setbacks become detours, not dead ends. They are simply challenges that test your commitment to your deeper purpose. This anchor provides the resilience that every leader needs.
3. It Makes Your ‘What’ Meaningful.
Building a house (the ‘What’) is a technical achievement. Building a home that becomes the foundation for a family’s dreams (the ‘Why’) is a legacy. Leading a team (the ‘What’) is a management task. Inspiring a team to unlock their potential and achieve what they thought was impossible (the ‘Why’) is transformational leadership.
Your ‘What’ is what you do. Your ‘Why’ is the cause you serve. And in the journey of nation-building, we don’t just need people who know what to do; we need leaders who remember why they are doing it.
Call to Action:
Take 15 minutes today. Find a quiet space and ask yourself: “Why do I do what I do?” Keep digging until you find an answer that resonates deeper than any job title or financial goal. That is your compass. Start following ii
