Crock’s Thoughts

Well, some people think leadership is all about the title on their LinkedIn profile. Others are convinced it’s measured by the square footage of their corner office, or the practiced tilt of their chin as they sigh, “I’d explain it to you, but I simply don’t have the bandwidth for your tax bracket.”

Now, for me… real leadership is servant leadership. It’s the kind where the leader doesn’t sit back polishing their ego while everyone else does the heavy lifting. It’s the idea that the captain is the last one off the airplane or ship. They’re the first one in and the last one out. If things go sideways, the leader doesn’t vanish like socks in the dryer.

Which by the way… if anyone finds one of my pizza-themed socks, please let me know. I’m thinkin’ it ran off to the sock witness protection program… or something. I don’t know… but it’s gone! Lol!

Anyway… ummm… what was I saying? Oh, yeah…

I mean, if you’re on an airplane and the captain casually walks through the cabin wearing a parachute… well, the crew and passengers begin to lose a little confidence in their leadership. Just saying… 🤷‍♂️

However, the captain who stays until everyone else is safe? That’s someone you’d follow into turbulence, thunderstorms, and questionable in-flight meals. And they are questionable at times. Well, except for those yummy-for-my-tummy Biscoff cookies. Sooo… freaking good! 😋

Anyway, one of my favorite examples of this kind of leadership comes from the movie, We Were Soldiers. Mel Gibson plays Lt. Col. Hal Moore, whose rule was simple. He was first one off the helicopter, last one back on. There were no exceptions, no excuses.

He never asked his soldiers to go anywhere he wasn’t willing to go himself. That kind of leadership says, “I’m not sending you, I’m going with you!”

I mean, jumping out of a helicopter is already a badass thing to do… but going first into a hail of gunfire is elite-level leadership behavior!

Then there’s another favorite of mine… Captain Chesley Sullenberger, better known as Captain Sully.

When US Airways Flight 1549 turned into “Well… we’re landing in the Hudson now,” Sully didn’t just land the airplane and call it a day. After getting everyone evacuated, he walked the cabin to ensure everyone was off the airplane.

That’s just another badass moment! A sinking aircraft, water rising… and Sully’s response is basically, “Hold on… let me double-check.”

That’s servant leadership! Risking his own safety to ensure no one is left behind.

He didn’t grab his bag and say, “Y’all good? Cool, I’m out!” He was the last one off the airplane, because that’s what real captains do.

And long before helicopters, airplanes, or airline safety briefings, there was greatest leader of all: Jesus. Talk about the gold standard in leadership! He was literally washing feet, serving the outcasts, and putting others first at every turn. No throne, no entourage demanding green M&M’s, no power plays. Just humility, sacrifice, and love.

Servant leaders don’t lead from above, but lead from among. They don’t bark orders from a distance, but shoulder the load. They don’t rush to take credit, but they’re first to take responsibility.

Leadership isn’t about being served.
It’s about being willing to serve—even when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, or downright exhausting.

Because at the end of the day, the best leaders aren’t remembered for how high they climbed… they’re remembered for how many people they lifted along the way.