The Payoff People Are Really Following You For
There’s a line in Wealthy and Well Known that caused some good reflection for me this week:
“What people want is the destination. They want the result. They want the reward that awaits at the end of the rainbow. What they don’t want is all the work it takes to get there.”
Whether we like it or not, this is human nature. People move toward the reward, not the effort. People make decisions based on the payoff, not the process. And as leaders, this is something we must understand with absolute clarity.
Why Some Messages Take Off… And Others Don’t
To illustrate this point, let’s consider the following book titles:
“The 4 Hour Work Week”
“Think and Grow Rich”
Millions of copies sold. Massive cultural impact. Are they the only great books ever written? Certainly not. Do these titles provide the easiest promise to understand? Absolutely. Their titles tell you the payoff – on the very cover! That’s why they work. MANY other books are just as wise – maybe even wiser – but they tend not to explode in sales numbers because they don’t clearly communicate what’s in it for the reader. Leadership works the same way.
Leadership Is Influence… And Influence Is Marketing
John Maxwell teaches:
“Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”
Rory Vaden takes it further: "Your reputation is what determines your reach." And your reputation is manufactured by your messaging. If people don’t understand the reward that comes from following your leadership, they won’t follow you. They won’t lean in. They won’t listen deeply. They won’t trust fully. Not because you aren’t a good leader, but because you haven’t clearly shown them where you’re trying to take them.
Here is the question every Steady Leader must be able to answer:
“What is the reward for following me?”
Not your resume. Not your experience. Not your personality. The reward.
Do people become better? More confident? More capable? More steady? More hopeful about their future? Do their lives get better because of you? If you can’t name the payoff, neither can they.
Start With Purpose, Not Performance
Before you try to “sell the reward” to others, slow down and ask yourself:
Why do I work so hard?
Why do I want to grow people?
Why do I choose steadiness instead of chaos?
Why does this mission matter to me?
When you understand your why, your messaging becomes magnetic. Your purpose IS the payoff. For some, that payoff will be hope. For others, clarity, confidence, direction, or stability. You will not be the best leader for everyone — and that’s a good thing. But the people who resonate with your purpose? Those will be your people – your tribe.
Your Influence Grows When Your Message Is Simplified
If you’re building a team, a business or a brand, clarify the destination. Say it simply. Say it often. Live it daily.
People aren’t following your effort. They’re following your outcome. Leaders who can articulate the payoff earn trust. Leaders who can deliver the payoff earn influence. And leaders who can duplicate the payoff in others leave a legacy.
Your Steady Leader Challenge This Week
Take five minutes today and write a one sentence answer to this:
“The reward for following my leadership is…”
Don’t try to make it pretty. Make it honest. Make it clear. Then start showing up in a way that proves it.
Stay steady. Lead with purpose.
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God Bless!
~ Schuyler Williamson