You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do. – Henry Ford
A turkey was chatting with a bull. “I would love to get to the top of that tree,” the turkey sighed, “ but I haven’t got the energy.”
“Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. “They’re full of nutrients.”
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found it gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. After eating more dung the next day, he reached the second branch.
Finally, after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. A farmer promptly spotted him and shot him out of the tree.
The moral of the story: BS might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.
As a leader and small business owner, I know firsthand the importance and challenges of getting ahead. And as the above story humorously illustrates, it’s not BS.
An article in Business Dasher revealed the following:
- About 79% of small businesses survive their first year, which means that 21% of small businesses fail in their first year
- More than 50% of businesses fail within five years
- 70% of businesses fail in their tenth year
With statistics like these, we know that 1) being a small business owner or entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart, 2) you can’t bluff your way to success, and 3) people in your office know BS when they see it, hear it, and smell it.
As a leader in your organization, regardless of your title or place in its organizational structure, you must prioritize knowing what sets you apart from your competitors and what gives you credibility within it.
People in your organization don’t need another fast-talking BSer who is more concerned about making a name for themselves. Click To Tweet They need a servant-leader who puts the team’s good ahead of their own agenda.
Knowing what the secret sauce is, what it is not, and what it should be is crucial. Here are just a few of the necessary ingredients.
The secret sauce is your grit.
It’s not your fancy words or talk. It’s all about embracing your gifts and calling, and not allowing yourself to be distracted. Doing the hard and unglamorous things daily produces results compounded over time.
Leadership advice from John Maxwell: “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret sauce is found in your daily routine.”
The secret sauce is your attitude.
Your attitude will make you or break you. You will face adversity from within and without. Each experience will be a test of your resolve, and those who endure are those who have mastered the discipline of a good and strong attitude.
Leadership advice from Zig Ziglar: “Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude.”
The secret sauce is your integrity.
Getting ahead is not about your ability to out-B.S. the other guy. That person will eventually be exposed for who he is. The foundation for how high and far you will go is built on your integrity. How high and how far you go is dependent upon it.
Leadership advice from W. Clement Stone: “Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.”
The secret sauce is your passion.
When it comes to succeeding as a business leader, it all comes down to what drives and motivates you. You will never develop grit and do the hard things required for success if you have no passion for it. A passionless leader will produce passionless followers, and the business will eventually die. But a leader with passion and drive will persevere through the storms and challenges that come their way.
Craig Groeschel offers this leadership advice: “Vision and values should inspire and move you. If they don’t, they are too dull and safe.”
What is your secret sauce?
©2025 Doug Dickerson
