As leaders, we make investments in our businesses regularly—whether in technology, equipment, new facilities, or marketing. These are all important to staying competitive.

But let’s not forget the greatest asset we have: our people.

Henry Ford once said, “Take away my buildings, my land, my equipment, but leave me my people and in a short time I will have them all again.”

The truth is simple: we can’t grow without the right people in the right roles. Consider the story of Andrew Carnegie, who built one of the largest steel companies in the early 1900s. He was known to have 43 millionaires working for him—a rarity in those days. When asked how he managed it, Carnegie replied:

“They weren’t millionaires when I hired them. People are developed like gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to find an ounce of gold. But one doesn’t go into the mine looking for dirt—one goes in looking for gold.”

My mentor John Maxwell once shared with me a principle his father taught him about developing people:

  • Encourage them

  • Acknowledge them

  • Express gratitude to them

  • Lead them as they can be, not just as they are

Yes, we invest in seminars, workshops, and conferences for our teams. But I’ve found the highest return comes from something simpler—time. Taking time to connect, listen, and help others think through challenges and opportunities has always yielded the richest rewards.

If you believe your people are your greatest investment, then every moment you spend developing them is worth it.

Wishing you all the best as you go into the mine—searching for gold.