Eighty years ago this week, two decisions changed the course of human history. In August 1945, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended World War II, but at an unthinkable human cost.
One survivor, Setsuko Thurlow, was just 13 years old when the bomb fell on Hiroshima. Buried in rubble, she miraculously survived.
But instead of living her life in bitterness or silence, she transformed her trauma into purpose.
She became a global voice for peace, dedicating her life to the abolition of nuclear weapons through her work with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
Her life is a living example of purpose over pride – a mission that outlasted fear, anger, and ego.
That’s what true leadership looks like in life and in business.
Because leadership isn’t about how loud your voice is – it’s about what it’s in service of.
Mission Builds Unity – Ego Creates Silos
In the military, we were trained to “stay on mission”, no matter the discomfort, the sacrifice, or the personal inconvenience. The mission always came first. Not rank. Not the résumé. And definitely not ego.
And we did. Why? Because we believed in it.
That clarity creates alignment.
When a team is built around purpose, it becomes stronger than any one personality.
But when a team is built around pride, when someone thinks they’re “the hero”, the entire structure becomes fragile.
People start protecting turf instead of chasing targets. They hold back information. Silos form. Blame spreads.
Ego is a culture killer. Mission is a culture builder.
From Parade Grounds to Performance Reviews
I’ve seen this in the real estate world time and time again. An agency has all the right tools – great branding, solid processes, even decent numbers, but they can’t seem to scale or retain their top people.
Why?
Because leadership is still about the leader. Success literally bottlenecks with them.
They want the stage. They want the spotlight. They want to be the star.
But here’s the truth: your team doesn’t need a hero. They need a mission.
When you define a compelling vision for your business, one that serves your clients, uplifts your community, and creates growth pathways for your people, suddenly, things shift.
Recruitment becomes easier. Retention goes up. Culture feels stronger. Performance climbs.
A Story From the Front Line
Having had the privilege of working alongside and learning from some of Australia’s best Defence Force members, I can tell you, there was no room for ego.
These were some of the most highly trained individuals in the world, yet you’d never hear them brag.
What mattered was the mission. The team. The objective.
And when it came time to act, everyone knew their role. No one needed micromanaging.
No one needed to be the hero. They trusted the plan, the people, and the purpose behind it.
I’ve taken that lesson into every business I’ve led.
At Harcourts Western Australia, our team has experienced over 25% year-on-year growth.
Not because we chase numbers, but because we pursue purpose and vision: to help others achieve success and to provide the finest experience in real estate.
It’s not about me. It’s about the mission.
I once coached a leader who couldn’t work out why their high-performing team was starting to feel disengaged.
They were hitting targets, but something felt off. After sitting in on a team meeting, the problem was clear, it was all about them. It was a “me culture”.
Every win was “my” strategy, “my” brand, “my” reputation. The biggest picture was missing. A mission was missing.
Once we shifted the language to “we” and reconnected the team to why they were doing the work, the culture lifted, and so did results.
Purpose-Driven Leadership in Real Estate
Here’s the point. You don’t need to have served in uniform to lead this way.
You just need to ask yourself a few hard questions:
- Is my leadership more about me… or about the mission?
- Have I clearly communicated what we’re here to do – beyond sales?
- Do my team members feel like they’re part of something meaningful?
- Am I building a culture that celebrates not just results, but contribution too?
The answers might sting a little. But they’re worth exploring.
Because when your business becomes mission-led, your team becomes mission-aligned.
And when people feel part of something bigger than themselves, they’ll go further than you ever imagined.
Final Thought: Legacy Isn’t Built on Pride
Setsuko Thurlow could have spent her life bitter, angry, or silent.
Instead, she chose to be better – on purpose. She chose mission. She turned trauma into advocacy and service.
Whether you’re leading a team of 2 or 200, the same opportunity exists for you:
To lead with less pride and more purpose.
To trade the spotlight for the greater good.
To become the kind of leader whose influence lasts well beyond the next quarter.
That’s mission over ego – That’s purpose over pride – That’s leadership that lasts.
