SPOT the Leader, Build the Legacy

Every entrepreneur dreams of building something that lasts. You want your hard work, relationships, and values to outlive you. But here’s the truth: you can’t make a lasting business or legacy if you don’t know how to SPOT leaders.

John C. Maxwell says it best: “Developing leaders is the one activity that compounds a leader’s time, influence, energy, vision, culture, finances, and mission.” 

Your greatest return doesn’t come from what you achieve personally—it comes from the leaders you raise. If your business relies solely on you, it will eventually come to an end with you. But if you develop leaders of leaders, your influence multiplies far beyond what you could ever accomplish alone.

The Problem Many Leaders Face

Too many leaders unintentionally cap their own growth. They either:

• Fail to recognize potential leaders in their organization, or
• Spot leaders but never invest in helping them multiply.

The result? Burnout, bottlenecks, and organizations that shrink the moment the founder steps back.

I’ve seen this reality firsthand: many businesses talk about leadership, but very few practice the discipline of intentionally developing leaders of leaders.

The SPOT Framework

To make this simple, I use the word SPOT as a guide to identify and invest in the right people:

• S = Self-Starter → They show initiative and get things done without constant supervision.
• P = People Developer → They don’t just perform; they help others perform.
• O = Open & Teachable → They have the humility to learn and adapt.
• T = Trustworthy & Tenacious → They stay dependable and resilient under pressure.

If someone consistently demonstrates these four traits, you’ve spotted a leader worth developing.

My Story: Applying SPOT in Building Community

When I served as BNI Managing Director for the MNL CBD Region, I intentionally applied SPOT. For over 7 years, I focused not just on growing chapters but on raising leaders of leaders.

The results were precise:

• Membership grew from 47 to over 215 business owners in the region.
• Retention improved because of stronger leadership pipelines.
• Many leaders I developed now serve in other Regions or at the National level.
• Chapters became healthier, more resilient, and less dependent on me personally.

Unfortunately, I’ve also observed that not many leaders are intentional about multiplying leaders. Some are satisfied managing a good chapter or team, but they stop short of raising leaders who can carry the mission further.

By contrast, I stayed consistent with the SPOT framework. And as a result, I’ve been able to multiply myself 500%—quietly, almost unnoticed.

This leadership approach wasn’t about adding more work to my plate. It was about empowering others, fostering a culture of ownership, and enabling people to grow into leadership roles where they could thrive. Today, the impact is visible: our organization is stronger, more resilient, and growing steadily because leadership is multiplying at every level.

“It takes a leader to show and grow another leader.” — John C. Maxwell

That principle shaped everything.

The ROI of Building Leaders

According to John Maxwell in The Leader’s Greatest Return, developing leaders delivers the highest return on investment (ROI) a leader can ever experience. Why?

• Multiplication, Not Addition → Followers add, but leaders multiply. One leader you raise can create ten more.
• Sustainability → Leaders ensure the business thrives even when you’re absent.
• Compounding growth → Each leader developed creates ripple effects of growth and opportunity..
• Expanded capacity → More leaders mean more vision-carriers, problem solvers, and innovators.
• A lasting legacy → Maxwell reminds us: “A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.”

For me, this has been real and measurable: over 7 years in BNI, by intentionally spotting and raising leaders, I’ve seen a 500% increase in my leadership impact—without burning out or becoming the bottleneck. That’s leadership ROI in action.

“They position them and mentor them. They teach them how to reproduce leaders. The results compound, providing the leader’s greatest return.” — John C. Maxwell.

Why This Matters for Your Business

If you’re building a business—or even just starting—you must realize this: your ceiling is not defined by your talent but by the number of leaders you raise.

When you SPOT leaders and develop them:

• Your business scales beyond your personal capacity.
• Your team becomes more resilient and innovative.
• Your influence grows quietly but exponentially.
• Your legacy becomes secure because others will carry it forward.

A Call to Action

If you want your business—or your legacy—to last, don’t just focus on sales, systems, or strategies. Focus on leaders. Start today by:

1. Listing 3–5 people in your organization who show SPOT traits.
2. Giving them real opportunities to grow and lead.
3. Mentoring them not just to lead—but to build leaders themselves.

Remember this: your greatest return is not what you do, but who you develop. I encourage you to share your experiences with the SPOT framework and how it has impacted your leadership journey. Together, we can inspire and guide others to identify and develop future leaders within their organizations.