Key Takeaway 1: If you take care of your employees, they'll take care of the customer (Anderson, 2023).  I believe this concept is the foundation of Leader-member Exchange (LMX) theory, which centers leadership on the interactions between leaders and followers.  Research shows that high-quality leader-member exchanges produced less employee turnover, more positive performance evaluations, higher frequency of promotions, greater organizational commitment, more desirable work assignments, better job attitudes, more attention and support from leaders, greater participation, and faster career progress over 25 years (Northouse, 2019).  Thus, it is important to remember throughout your leadership journey that you shouldn't only focus on success.  You have to care, as depicted in Exhibit 1, to achieve your optimal potential (Anderson, 2023).  

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Key Takeaway 2: Emotions play a critical role in the development of high-quality leader-member relationships (Northouse, 2019).  The stronger the LMX, the more emotionally committed both the leader and follower are to the outcome (see Exhibit 2).  It is out of this emotional commitment - this caring from both leader and follower - that generates the most benefit.

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Key Takeaway 3: Focus on what you can control.  When you take ownership, you're there to solve the problem.  People in victim mode are always waiting for external circumstances to change.  Happiness is a choice.  Focus on actions, solutions, and figuring it out (Anderson, 2023).  You ever see impoverished people / families enjoying themselves while wealthy people / families seem miserable? Because happiness is a choice... Life is about perspective (for both happiness and success) and happiness is defined differently for each individual.  Having been born in poverty in the Philippines and now living a higher household income life in the United States, I can assert that my happiness has been consistent because my perspective of happiness revolves around family, laughing, and feeling loved and supported (i.e., being cared for) - things that are available to you if you choose them, regardless of your household income.