If you’re familiar with our organization, you’ve likely seen the tagline Get Up — Show Up — Fire Up — Own It! appear at some point. Members of the Fired Up! team include it as part of their email signatures and it also shows up in many other facets of our daily work. But what does it mean to “Get Up — Show Up — Fire Up — Own It!” and how can this mindset help leaders set out on their journeys and face challenges with purpose and intentionality?

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that’s your own self.” Aldous Huxley, writer

Part 1: Get Up

To get started, first you have to Get Up. The principle of Get Up speaks to intentionality, the idea that leaders must make a choice to step forward and lead. We commonly see the belief that great leaders emerge by accident or fate, but nothing can be further from the truth. Intentionality, and not circumstance, is key to their success.

As we wrote in our book, Would You Work for You? The Quest: Discovering the Leader Within, “Choosing to prepare for the privilege of leadership means having an understanding that your actions and decisions will have an impact on the lives of many.” Leadership is no small thing, and when you commit to undertaking this difficult and rewarding journey, that’s the moment you Get Up.

Part 2: Show Up

When you Show Up, it means you’re going to be on time. It means you value your team members’ time and are careful not to waste it. It also speaks to how you live and express your values.

“To stay on the map, you’ve got to keep showing up.” — Peter Gallagher, actor

Have you determined which values will define your leadership? Do you know which traits will cause you to stand out from the crowd and give your work meaning? You Show Up in the world by holding yourself to your values and modeling that expectation for others on a daily basis. 

Living a value-driven life also allows you to more easily navigate challenging situations, as those values become a fixed point in the midst of upheaval.

Part 3: Fired Up

To be Fired Up means you embrace an attitude where you take a larger view of your work and look beyond your own desires and needs. It is about being clear about what your contribution is going to be. Ask yourself: “If I am going to wake up today and make a difference in the world, what will that look like?”

Leadership is bigger than the person leading. Leadership is about making your team members better and replacing a “me” approach with a “we” perspective. Ask yourself:

  • How are you going to impact others?
  • How are you going to improve the systems and organizations your team members work within?
  • How will you interact with them and support them so they have the opportunity to grow?

And, most importantly, how are you going to ensure that your leadership and your contribution matters?

lock iconPart 4: Own It!

“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you … The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness.” — William H. McRaven, United States Navy four-star admiral and author

An impactful leader doesn’t sit around waiting for things to happen. Instead, they take responsibility and figure out how to get the results they want. In Would You Work For You? The Quest: Discovering the Leader Within, we describe Own It as, “taking responsibility for your attitudes, actions, and behaviors while you get the job in front of you accomplished.”

Positive working relationships and trust underpin workplace culture and, as a leader, it’s ultimately your responsibility to create an environment where each team member can be successful. Building this environment requires that you accept responsibility for:

  • Who you are
  • What you can do
  • What you have received
  • Those you lead

When you truly take responsibility for every aspect of your life, it means you don’t blame others. You shift your perspective to acknowledge that which is earned, as opposed to that which is deserved or given.

A Different Kind of Leader

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” — Brené Brown, researcher and author

The common theme throughout each of these steps is intentionality. To be a leader, you must commit to growth, study, and intentionality. Success does not occur without a plan, and leadership doesn’t mean waiting around for an amazing culture to simply occur. 

Be clear with yourself about who you wish to be, how you plan to lead, and what you wish to accomplish. Then, take responsibility for making it all happen. That’s the true difference in a Fired Up! leader.

It’s time to Get Up — Show Up — Fire Up — Own It! Download our free eBook, Leading Self, to develop a thorough knowledge of your purpose, skills, and abilities.