A Letter from Chris Suarez

THE PROBLEM WITH TOP 10 LISTS

Every industry seems to have their list of top performers.

Look no further than sports. In basketball, we look to who has the most points, the most assists, the most rebounds. In football, we are amazed by the guy with the most touchdown passes or running yards. In soccer, we honor the girl with the most goals scored. In tennis, we are in awe of the athlete with the most Grand Slams.

In the social influence space, we judge a person’s importance and success by the number of followers they have (and seemingly the number of selfies in jets that they take).

In entertainment, we look at the actor with the most ticket sales or the actress with the most Emmys, Golden Globes, or Oscars. We look at the singer with the most platinum albums. Even writers are judged on their book sales to make the NYT Best Seller list.

In business, we look to the founder with the highest evaluation, the most closed sales, or the greatest revenue.

Acknowledgment is important. Rewards are needed. Even trophies at times deserved.

But there is a growing problem with these “Best Of” lists, and it has nothing to do with humility. The danger is that from the outside we begin to attach the result - the points, the passes, the Oscars, the albums, the revenue - to a person. We begin to put undue significance, assign unnecessary credit, and attach inaccurate ability to THE person, THE athlete, THE artist, THE founder.  

Now, clearly credit is due to the guard with 40 points in a game. Credit is due to the soccer forward with a hat trick. Credit is due to the founder that just hit unicorn status. However when we look to a person in our industry - or any industry - as the reason for the success of that team, company, or product, then we will slowly find ourselves trying to model the person, and not model everything that led to that person’s success. We start believing we need to act like that person, respond like that person, live like that person, and push like that person.

There is nothing new under the sun being accomplished by a man or a woman. Everything has been done before. Everything has been tried and tested before. What is new? There are new networks of humans coming together, building teams, forming partnerships. The newness is in the grouping of minds and energy around a goal or problem or industry. The success of anyone, anything, or any company is based on the interaction of a unique group of human beings at a unique moment in history.

So when we see that Top 10 list or Best Of list, understand your win isn’t following or modeling or honoring the leader. Your win is in understanding the difference between the unique group of people that have come together and what they collectively are building, are creating, and are achieving together.

I worry that too often we as a race have become star-struck. We attach almost Grecian myth or god-like significance to a leader or human. And sure there is value there. There is mentorship there. But the real learning and the real growth and the real value comes from finding that group, inserting yourself into that group, collaborating with that group, and creating the future with that group. It’s why partnerships are the future.

We don’t become successful by spending a few hours or even a few days interviewing or masterminding with someone at the top of that list.  Success in anything, even as seemingly independent as writing a book, is a collective effort. Success is a partnership. I like to look at a team or a company and think of each human contributing to that team as an ingredient in a proprietary formula. Think of Heinz Ketchup or Coca-Cola.  Think of the 1927 Yankees or the Bulls of the mid 90’s. Think of Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson or Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The collection of unique skills, differing perspectives, multiplying energies, and collaboration is what leads anyone or anything to the top.

Keep in mind, the guard scored 40 because of the forward’s great blocks. The quarterback’s touchdowns came only with the hands of the wide receiver and the time provided by the offensive line. The actor’s performance was a collaboration of brilliant writing, flawless directing, and a supporting cast. The founder’s unicorn? It was painted by an entire team of collaborative artists.  

So, if your team is on the list, go ahead and celebrate. There is nothing wrong with acknowledgment or reward or a trophy. If you are looking at that list and watching that list and learning from that list, make sure you realize that all wins are collective. All rewards are shared. All trophies are through partnership.

Chris