Make Others Look Good
The final transformation lesson from the life of Ulysses S. Grant that I want to share with you is this: Make others look good. You can learn more about Grant’s life in Ron Chernow’s biography, Grant.
Grant was a remarkably modest man. He didn’t self-promote or boast about his successes—he actually found that distasteful. It wasn’t that he lacked ambition or the desire for external validation; he certainly did. But his strong moral compass prevented him from grandstanding. This made him an exception among many generals of his time. While some were competent, many were politically driven self-promoters more focused on personal gain than the greater mission.
For President Abraham Lincoln, these generals were a constant headache. He needed a unified team, not a group of backstabbers. Though modest, Grant was also highly strategic. He understood that by making those above him look good, he would earn more freedom to fight the war his way—proactively, without red tape, and always pressing the enemy’s weaknesses. He despised slow-moving bureaucracy but never wasted time complaining. Instead, he took the initiative to handle problems himself and remained gracious toward President Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, and General Henry Halleck—even though Halleck had repeatedly tried to undermine him early in the war.
Grant’s proactive, humble approach was refreshing to Lincoln. He saw in Grant a man who simply wanted to do his job without endless complaints. As a result, Grant gained the president’s trust and, eventually, command of the entire Northern army. Not bad for someone who started the war with a reputation as a washed-up, drunken failure. From organizing local volunteers in his hometown of Galena, Illinois, he rose to the highest military position in the Union Army.
A Question for You
How focused are you on making others look good?
I know that my natural tendency is to look out for myself—securing stability and protecting my own interests. But I’ve noticed something: that way of living comes with a lot of anxiety and dissatisfaction. On the other hand, when I focus on being the best version of myself and helping others succeed, I experience greater peace and fulfillment. I’m also more likely to get ahead in a way that doesn’t compromise my very soul.
Here are some bite-size takeaways:
Avoid complaining
Be a problem solver
Treat your leadership graciously
Focus on your craft, take pride in it
Be the best version of yourself
Lift up those around you
Release the outcome
In terms of real-life application, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard employers say that “Good people are hard to come by.” It’s true; the world is hungry for decent people. The catch is that good people don’t always stand out at first, and this can feel unfair (Grant was initially overlooked repeatedly). Other people who are more flashy or filled with bravado may get acknowledgments or promotions in front of you. But if you stick to your guns, and commit to being a person of integrity who brings value to those around them, this will eventually come to light.
Learn a lesson from Grant and be a person who takes care of business and makes others look good. You will become indispensable, you will bless many in the process, and you may find yourself rising higher than you ever imagined.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom Page, LCPC
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