Many companies focus only on growing revenue, which is an output. A high-performance culture focuses on the inputs: the personal and professional growth of its people. Investing in employees' skills, confidence, and well-being is what ultimately drives sustainable financial success, not the other way around.

Organizational success depends less on high-profile 'superstars' and more on 'Sherpas'—generous, energetic team players who handle the essential, often invisible, support work. When hiring, actively screen for generosity and positive energy, as these are the people who enable collective achievement.

To motivate and retain employees, especially in a challenging market, leaders must shift their perspective from 'they work for me' to 'I work for them.' This servant-leadership approach involves genuinely caring about your team's well-being and success, which fosters loyalty and improves performance.

Elite salespeople understand that closing deals requires a team. They actively cultivate advocates within their own company—in operations, support, and finance—by treating them well and recognizing their contributions. This internal support system is critical for smooth deal execution and ensures they can deliver on client promises.

"Glue employees" are team members with high EQ who proactively help others and prioritize the team's success. They are multipliers but often go unnoticed because they aren't traditional "star" performers. Leaders should actively identify them by asking team members who helps them the most and then reward them accordingly.

Encourage team members, not just founders or marketers, to build their personal brands by publicly sharing their learnings and journey. This creates an organic, multi-pronged distribution engine that attracts customers, top talent, and investors. It's a highly underrated and cost-effective go-to-market strategy.

Your ability to serve clients depends on your internal team. Sales pro Steve Munn built strong relationships with his distribution center staff, treating them with respect ("more with sugar than you do with salt"). This rapport ensured they would go the extra mile for his clients during critical moments.

Don't wait for a promotion or new job opening to grow. Proactively identify other teams' pain points and offer your expertise to help solve them. This proactive helpfulness builds relationships, demonstrates your value across the organization, and organically opens doors to new skills and responsibilities.

Simply "servicing" an account by fulfilling orders makes you a replaceable commodity. To become indispensable, you must proactively bring insights and create new growth opportunities for your client. This shifts your role from a reactive vendor to a strategic partner, making you "sticky" and invaluable to their business.