You know, the cost of leadership is self-interest is one of those lines that hits you right in the gut. It’s not about giving up your salary, but about sacrificing your own convenience for the good of the team. Once you really get it, the way you lead changes completely.
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Meaning
At its core, this means that to be a true leader, you have to prioritize the well-being and success of your people over your own personal gains and comfort.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. We all have self-interest. It’s natural. But leadership, real leadership, demands that you consciously set that aside. It’s the leader who takes the hit so the team doesn’t have to. The one who stays late to help a struggling team member meet a deadline, even though they’d rather be home. It’s a trade. You trade your personal comfort for the team’s collective safety and success. And that’s what builds the trust, that’s the stuff that makes a team feel safe enough to do amazing things.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | humility (61), sacrifice (12), service (57) |
| Literary Style | aphoristic (181), minimalist (442) |
| Emotion / Mood | reflective (382), serious (155) |
| Overall Quote Score | 79 (243) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Simon Sinek’s 2014 book, “Leaders Eat Last.” It’s a central theme of his work. You sometimes see it misattributed to other leadership gurus or even ancient philosophers, but its true home is in Sinek’s modern exploration of what he calls the “Circle of Safety.”
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Simon Sinek (207) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (34) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Simon Sinek champions a leadership philosophy rooted in purpose, trust, and service. He started in advertising, then founded Sinek Partners and gained global attention with his TED Talk on the Golden Circle. He advises companies and the military, writes bestselling books, and hosts the podcast “A Bit of Optimism.” The Simon Sinek book list features Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together Is Better, Find Your Why, and The Infinite Game. He speaks worldwide about building strong cultures, empowering people, and leading for the long term.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The cost of leadership is self-interest |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2014; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-1591848011; Last edition: Portfolio/Penguin, 2014; Number of pages: 368 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 8: The Courage to Do the Right Thing; Approximate page from 2014 edition |