Love Uphill: The Leadership Lesson From Jim Henson And The Muppets

The pain could be excruciating.

The puppeteer would be on their knees with their arm in the air, making a character come to life.

This wasn’t just for a few minutes.

It was for hours on end—practice after practice.

Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, was obsessed with facial expressions.

He wanted the audience to feel the Muppet’s smile, frown, or sadness.

And so, they practiced… for hours.

They didn’t just practice—they reshot scenes.

Frank Oz is quoted as saying, “Part of what makes the Muppets work is that we do lots and lots of takes until we get it right.”

That’s excellence.

Why would they endure the pain in their arms and knees?

Why would they put in so many hours?

Yes, to get it right.

But they ENJOYED it.

They loved creating another world and seeing an audience get lost in it.

Their passion for the craft and for excellence overruled any discomfort it caused them personally.

Leadership guru Larry Briggs has a saying: “You must learn to love uphill.”

This is the essence of love uphill leadership—having a passion so strong that you endure the pain, sacrifice, and struggle because the outcome is worth it.

Henson so loved what he was doing that he endured the pain of creating the magic that was the Muppets.

Their arms hurt.

They’d forget lines and have to reshoot scenes.

The set could get hot due to the characters and costumes.

But there were Henson, Oz, and the team—creating unforgettable scenes.

The passion for what you do has to be strong enough to pull you through doubt, tiredness, criticism, and market downturns.

Nobody else can carry you through those times.

You must look within, remind yourself why you started this journey, cling to your purpose, and inspire others to march forward.

This is what love uphill leadership looks like in practice.

There is no easy path to success.

Henson and company loved uphill—and look what they created.

John Maxwell has written, “Success comes with sacrifice.”

Before you chase the dream, make sure you’re willing to make the sacrifice to make it a reality.

Love uphill.

Pay the price.

Make the sacrifice.

That’s the only way you’ll achieve the success you desire.

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Intersecting life, luxury, and leadership,

Chris Adams

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