If Not Me, Who? A Lesson in Servant Leadership from a Lake in Wisconsin

Servant leadership is something I’ve been studying, practicing, and teaching for over twenty-five years. Wow—guess I’m getting old! The premise is simple: if you can serve and help someone with your time, talent, and gifts, do it. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

Danica and I have a little cabin in Tomahawk, WI, where we always enjoy the 4th of July holiday with our cabin friends and neighbors.

Jeff and Mary, our next-door neighbors, are terrific friends—and terrific people. They are true servant leaders. Every year, the only restaurant on our lake hosts fireworks. Mama D’s is the bar we can visit by boat or by road. Throughout the year, patrons donate money in her large plastic tub to help cover the cost of the fireworks.

When we arrived on Wednesday night and visited with Jeff and Mary, we learned that the folks who were originally going to launch the fireworks had backed out—with only a couple of weeks’ notice.

Mama D found another couple willing to do it, but only if they had a 10×8 floating barge to launch from. Jeff told us he was going to build one using two pontoon floats he had purchased a few years earlier, which were out in his woods. I said, “I’m going to help you.”

Jeff can build anything. He’s a master welder by trade and is becoming one hell of a carpenter. Together, we spent seven hours on Thursday gathering supplies and building the barge. I felt like a million bucks. We had a lot of fun—and we helped the community.

When I asked Jeff why he decided to do it, he simply said, “If not me, who?” I loved his response.

Jeff’s words stuck with me: “If not me, who?” That mindset is at the heart of servant leadership—not just in our personal lives, but in business as well.

In any organization, success doesn’t come from titles or authority—it comes from people who step up, take initiative, and serve others. The best leaders aren’t always the ones with the loudest voices, but the ones who quietly build the platform so others can shine—just like Jeff did with that barge.

In business, servant leadership means showing up, taking responsibility, and lifting others. It’s asking, “Where can I help?” instead of “What’s in it for me?” When leaders model that mindset, teams become stronger, cultures thrive, and communities—inside and outside the workplace—benefit.

So whether it’s fireworks on a lake or a tough challenge at work, ask yourself: If not me, who? That question can be the beginning of something bigger than you think.

JOE KIEDINGER