There’s an old saying: If you really want to know who someone is, give them money and power. Separately, these forces reveal glimpses of character. But together, they expose the whole truth. For business owners and senior executives who sit in positions of influence, the stakes are high, and the mirrors are unforgiving.
You might fool the world with words, but it’s your actions, especially when you have wealth or influence, that reveal who you truly are.
Recently, I visited Newport, Rhode Island—a beautiful city steeped in history and privilege, known for its breathtaking mansions and the echoes of America’s Gilded Age. Walking through the palatial estates of industrial titans long gone, I couldn’t help but reflect on the parallels between then and now. Wealth in that era was immense, but so was the social divide. And today? It feels like we may be inching our way back to that world, privilege piling high while more and more people are left to struggle to make ends meet.
Wealth and power can be intoxicating, but they also come with significant challenges.
The Test of Power: What Do You Do With It?
Power is fascinating. It’s not just about position or title—it’s about the ability to shape outcomes for other people. When you have power, your decisions ripple outwards. Lives are affected. Futures are altered. Opportunities are created—or closed.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: Power doesn’t corrupt; it reveals. When people get authority, we begin to see their deeper motivations.
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Do they use power to uplift others or to serve themselves?
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Do they promote talent or protect their own ego?
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Do they mentor or manipulate?
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Is their leadership about impact or just image?
When someone finally gets the ability to steer the ship, their true values become apparent. Some see leadership as a calling. Others see it as a crown.
Used wisely, power can be transformative. You can become the person who helps others dream bigger, achieve more, and believe in themselves. You can build a culture of confidence, dignity, and vision. But misused power can crush spirits. It can turn great people into shadows, force compliance instead of commitment, and create an environment of fear disguised as respect.
The real question is this: Is your power about you, or about something more significant than you?
The Trap of Wealth: What Are You Really Chasing?
Money is often celebrated as the scorecard of success. But let’s be honest: Wealth for the sake of wealth is a pointless exercise. It becomes a treadmill—fast-moving, never-ending, exhausting. No matter how much you earn, there’s always someone with more.
And something happens when money enters the picture: comparison creeps in. People who used to be content with a $70,000 car and a $700,000 home suddenly feel insecure in a $120,000 car and a $5 million house, because of who they now associate with.
Their social circles shift not always toward those who helped them rise, but toward those who obsess over how high they’ve climbed.
Here’s the truth: money doesn’t buy loyalty—it rents it. And loyalty that is purchased is always for sale. If people are around you because of what you have, they’ll disappear when it’s gone. They’re not loyal to you—they’re loyal to what you can give them.
What’s more valuable is building relationships grounded in values, not valuables. Are the people in your life drawn to your character or your capital?
Words vs. Actions: The True Measure of Character
As a leader, your words matter—but your actions matter more. People are listening, yes—but they are watching more closely. You can preach integrity, but if you cut corners when it’s convenient, that’s the message they’ll believe. You can talk about loyalty, but if you throw people under the bus, that’s what they’ll remember.
Actions define character far more than words ever will.
It’s easy to give a speech about values—it’s harder to live them when the pressure is on, when money is at stake, or when power makes you untouchable.
Leadership is not a title—it’s a daily test. And those who follow you? They’re grading every decision you make.
Success Without Significance Is Empty
If your leadership journey has led you to wealth and influence, congratulations—but now the bigger question emerges: What are you going to do with it?
Because the truth is, success without significance is hollow. Building a business, making a fortune, and climbing the ladder—those are accomplishments. But significance? That’s when your life changes other people’s lives. That’s when your leadership ripples outward into legacy.
I’ve been to the funerals of extraordinarily wealthy people. Some were sparsely attended or seemingly full out of obligation. The eulogies were short, the emotions shallow. But I’ve also been to the funerals of people with modest means—rooms packed with people sharing stories, tears, laughter, and gratitude. Why? Because those people mattered. They made a difference. They gave more than they took.
The Burden and Blessing of Responsibility
We’re living in a world increasingly divided between those who have and those who don’t. That divide isn’t just about money. It’s about access, opportunity, dignity, and empathy.
If you’ve benefited from the system—if you’ve gained influence and financial success—what responsibility comes with that?
Do you pay it forward? Or do you pour your energy into protecting what you’ve gained? I’ve met many wealthy individuals who spend more time avoiding taxes than making a difference—yet they’ve benefited more than anyone from the economic engine of this country.
If you’ve been blessed to rise, don’t just climb higher. Turn around and help someone else up the mountain. And don’t forget to thank the people who helped you ascend in the first place.
Real leaders don’t look down on others; they reach down to lift others up.
What Are You Really Keeping Score Of?
If you lost it all tomorrow, who would still be there? Who would call you, support you, care for you? And those around you today—are they friends, partners, and peers? Or are they audience members keeping score?
It’s easy to get impressed by titles, homes, and financial statements. But here’s a better question to ask: What does this person care about? What do they value? And do they live a life aligned with that?
Watch what people do, not what they say. That’s where character lives.
Final Reflections: The Choice Is Always Yours
Leadership is not a solo journey. And the measure of a life well lived isn’t what you accumulated—it’s what you left behind in the hearts and minds of others.
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Power, used wisely, inspires. Used poorly, it destroys.
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Money, hoarded, isolates. Shared, it transforms.
The people watching you—your team, your family, your peers—they’re not just watching how high you climb. They’re watching who you bring with you.
At some point, we all have to ask: What am I keeping score of, and why?
I hope your leadership journey continues to grow in success. But more importantly, I hope it grows in significance. That you use your power to build, your wealth to bless, and your influence to inspire.
Because in the end, the true legacy of a leader isn’t found in what they had, but in what they gave and who they lifted up.