Leadership is a thankless job. Every decision impacts lives. Every choice alters outcomes. No one fully understands your predicament, and there are always critics. Everyone wants something from you and wants nothing to do with you.

CEOs require enormous reserves of courage and persistence. Inevitably, one or more group of employees, shareholders or customers is unhappy with you at any given moment. And people will abandon you when you least expect it.

So why take on leadership responsibilities? Why become a CEO or C-level executive? Because great leaders change the world for the better. By offering employees challenging and fulfilling work. By supporting employees and families with attractive compensation to grow their wealth and economic well being. By inspiring employees to grow and achieve more than ever thought possible. By improving diversity, increasing racial acceptance, building communities and bringing people closer together. By accelerating social change, reducing climate change, and driving responsible citizenship. Because great leaders do great things.

Are you a great leader?