There are moments in life—at work, in creative groups, or even in friendships—where you might find yourself outpacing the team. You’re locked in, showing up with discipline, focus, and that internal drive, and meanwhile, others around you are just… coasting. It’s frustrating. You might feel the urge to vent, disengage, or drop your intensity to match theirs. But that’s not you. That’s not leadership. That’s not alignment.

See, there is an “M.E.” in team—and it doesn’t stand for ego. It stands for Mindset and Example. Your mindset fuels your performance, and your example has the power to influence everyone else around you, whether they acknowledge it or not.

Think about it like this: every once in a while, somebody has to be the Kobe. Someone has to raise the standard, carry the energy, and show what excellence looks like in real time. Not with their mouth—but with their work. It’s tempting to call people out when they’re slacking, but often the most powerful thing you can do is lead by example and let your greatness rub off on them.

Now, I get it—management or leadership might overlook you because “it’s a team effort,” or they use others’ poor performance as a reason to hold back your raise or promotion. But put that aside for a second. That’s a separate conversation about value and recognition. This one is about you keeping your spirit clean and your actions aligned with who you are regardless of the scoreboard or spotlight.

Because if you let their slack energy infect yours, now you’re playing their game. You’ve lowered your own standards to make a point, and that point rarely lands the way you hoped. But when you stay in your zone, something magical happens: their mistakes can become your moments.

Imagine it’s a basketball game. You’ve got a teammate who’s known to lose the ball under pressure. You could sit back, fold your arms, look at the coach like, “See?” Or—you could be ready. You could anticipate it, get the steal, dive for the loose ball, chase down the fast break and get the block that changes the game. You didn’t stop the turnover. You just turned it into a highlight. That’s next-level leadership. That’s spiritual poise. That’s staying locked in when others are flinching.

Most teams have stars and role players. But every player has the potential to be the star of a moment. When you’re aligned, when your energy stays high, you’ll see those moments—and more importantly, you’ll show others what they look like. They’ll start to see through your example, not your complaints.

And the wild thing? People notice. Even the ones you think don’t. Even the ones who never say a word. People see how you carry yourself. They see how you keep your cool, how you show up every day, how you make the most of the situation without trashing anyone else. That kind of energy? It spreads. It sets the tone. It becomes the blueprint for what a real leader looks like.

So yeah, there’s an M.E. in team. And if you play it right, you won’t just uplift the team—you’ll transform it.