How to Foster an Ownership Mindset for Success

I’ve spent thousands of hours refining what it means (to me) to have an ownership mentality. Here are the principles I believe you must live by every day: 1. Take responsibility for your area of the business and keep the owner from worrying about it 2. Empathize with your owner over the hard financial decisions they make 3. Take the biggest problems off your owner’s plate—make their job easy 4. Never take for granted that your money isn’t at risk (the owner’s is) 5. Fix organizational problems through new and enhanced processes 6. Help drive sales, operational excellence, and team-building 7. Have the owner’s back—never gossip about him/her 8. Think about the company before yourself 9. Learn and understand business financials 10. Present ideas for the future OFTEN Best case? You end up as an equity partner. Worst case? You take your skills and mindset somewhere that appreciates them. I know owners who would die to have people like this.

UserGems 💎 went through Y Combinator years ago so when I joined, we had many posters with quotes from Paul Graham like, "Do things that don't scale", "Make something people want". But this was my absolute favorite: Get $h*t done (even took a photo with it lol) It's my personal ethos and what I look for in teams, hiring, partners. (We're hiring, btw!) To me, what it means is: 1) Take extreme ownership: when you're assigned to anything, step up, take charge, and pull in any help needed. The ultimate goal is to get it to the finish line. 2) Rise to the occasion, even if you're unsure if you're "ready": This is the one tip that Russell Banzon told me last week that he would give to his younger self or anyone. Career and success aren't linear. Say YES to new strategic projects, and then go figure it out. Is it about getting it done perfectly every time? No. But the cost of inaction is SO much greater than getting started, even if you start small. Only then can you truly learn from what worked & didn't work, and keep iterating to achieve the results that you want. Is it about agreeing to any assignment blindly? No. Taking ownership also means unpacking the challenge, evaluating the paths to get there, communicating with the manager/leadership the options to evaluate costs & benefits, and aligning on how to measure success. Then, get it done. TLDR: Be known as the person who gets $h*t done. Doors will open to you. *** Charlie Munger shared this in his speech at Harvard graduation in 1986: “How to Guarantee a Life of Misery” that's on this topic. "First, be unreliable. Do not faithfully do what you have engaged to do. Master this one habit and you can always play the role of the hare in the fable, except that instead of being outrun by one fine turtle you will be outrun by hordes and hordes of mediocre turtles and even by some mediocre turtles on crutches." #leadership #management #growth

📚 I've read many books, but this one was a game-changer: → "Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin 💡4 lessons I learned 👉🏼 1. Ownership and Accountability. ↳ Taking full ownership of your actions and decisions is crucial. It empowers you to learn from failures, make necessary changes, and lead effectively. ↳ Lyft CEO, David Risher, is a shining example of emotional intelligence in what was called the $2 billion typo on a press release misstating margin outlook from 50 to 500. He stated: "First of all, it's on me." "It's an unacceptable error. Again, ultimately it's on me--I'm the CEO, the buck stops with me." ↳ I've seen so many leaders who are always quick to point 🫵 and blame 🤬. Ask yourself, how often are you pointing the finger first vs. taking accountability? 👉🏼 2. Leadership Through Humility. ↳ True leadership involves humility, recognizing mistakes, and being accountable. It's not about blame but about taking responsibility and leading with integrity. ↳ Integrity is the quality of honesty, strong moral principles, and moral uprightness. Finish each day knowing you can look in the mirror and know you've done what's right 😇 . Don't get caught on the slippery slope... ⛷️ 👉🏼 3. Team Success Through Ownership. ↳ When individuals in a team take ownership of their mistakes and work towards solutions collectively, the team becomes stronger and more effective in achieving its goals. 👉🏼 4. Leading by Example. ↳ Leading by example means being the first to take ownership, show accountability, and demonstrate the values you expect from others. It inspires trust and unity within a team. 💬 My favorite quote? “... the most fundamental and important truths at the heart of Extreme Ownership: there are no bad teams, only bad leaders.” 📝 Here's 5 Examples: 1️⃣ Project Failure at Work: ↳ Instead of blaming your team for a project's failure, you take full responsibility, analyze the missteps, and share the lessons learned. 2️⃣ Misunderstanding with Your Partner: ↳ You acknowledge your role in a misunderstanding, fostering resolution through open communication and accountability. 3️⃣ Coaching a Youth Sports Team: ↳ Facing consistent losses, you reflect on improving your coaching methods and motivating the team, rather than blaming their skills. 4️⃣ Financial Mismanagement: ↳ You own up to poor spending habits, creating a solid plan for budgeting and financial improvement instead of blaming external factors. 5️⃣ Career Stagnation: ↳ Instead of attributing stagnation to external obstacles, you focus on personal growth and proactive steps to advance your career. #leadership #emotionalintelligence #teams #accountability #extremeownership #humility

𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸 👔💼 Ever worked with people who pass the buck, point fingers, or make excuses when things go awry? This behavior breeds resentment, erodes trust, and hampers the culture of excellence you aim to build. Why do some resort to finger-pointing? How can you foster true ownership instead? In my experience, buck passing typically stems from three motivators: First, fear of failure. Some lack confidence and dread criticism, seeing mistakes as threats, not growth opportunities, which deters ownership. Second, unclear expectations. Some, without proper guidance, view accountability as unfair, not grasping their roles and goals. Third, selfish mindsets. When personal interests overshadow collective goals, ownership suffers. Some prioritize image over collective success, avoiding risks that might expose flaws. The fallout? Damaged credibility, strained relationships, and a blame culture. Hardly recipes for the organizational success you seek. So how can you cultivate a culture of empowered ownership? Three strategies: 1️⃣ 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁. View challenges as chances to improve. Seek feedback to continually hone your skills. Lean into growth opportunities, making feedback fuel for your growth, not grounds for criticism. 2️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Foster open communication to align on goals and progress. Ask when unsure. Own your work instead of deferring or avoiding responsibility. 3️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, advancing towards shared objectives. Make choices aligned with the team’s vision. Celebrate collective wins, learn from joint losses, and uplift others through challenges. The bottom line? Owning your impact transforms you into a courageous, collaborative leader. It ignites a ripple effect where colleagues feel valued and inspired to own their work too. And it builds the bedrock for organizational excellence. Will you pass the buck? Or seize the chance to step up, own it, and grow? Your choice. Let’s lead by example. What tactics have helped instill ownership on your team? Share your insights below. #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #Management #Entrepreneurship #Motivation

A coach and teacher I greatly admire, Steve Chandler, often discusses a distinction I like to use in my work: Being an Owner vs. Being a Victim. I’ve applied this to my life and work, and it's a game-changer in how we lead, grow, and achieve results. Let me lay it out for you. It's very much akin to Carol Dweck’s Fixed vs. Growth mindset, but he’s been talking about this for 20 years or more. Being an "owner" means stepping up to the plate, ready to take responsibility for our actions and their outcomes, no matter the circumstances. It's about seeing whatever is in front of us as opportunities to learn and evolve. On the flip side, a "victim" points fingers for their circumstances and believes “life” is what is given vs. what is created. 👉🏼 Here's how the “Owner” approches things. ♦️ "What can we learn from this?" - This question is classic for an owner, focusing on growth and learning from every situation, whether it's a success or a setback. ♦️ "Let's find a solution." - Owners are solution-oriented, always looking for ways to overcome obstacles and improve situations rather than dwelling on the problems. ♦️ "I'm responsible for my actions and their outcomes." - Owners take responsibility for their actions, understanding that they have the power to influence their destiny through the choices they make. 👉🏼 Here's how the “Victim” approches things. ♦️ "It's not my fault." - Victims often deflect responsibility, blaming others or external circumstances for their misfortunes or failures. ♦️ "There's nothing I can do." - This phrase encapsulates a sense of helplessness and resignation, suggesting that the victim feels powerless to change their situation. ♦️ "Why does this always happen to me?" - Victims frequently see themselves as the target of unfair fate or circumstances, perceiving challenges and setbacks as personal attacks rather than universal experiences or opportunities for growth. Think back on a recent hurdle. Did you tackle it with ownership or find yourself in victim mode? It's okay if you leaned more towards feeling like a victim—we've all been there. The key is recognizing that moment and asking ourselves how we can shift towards taking ownership. Let me be clear: adopting an owner mindset isn't about being perfect or never facing doubt. It's about how we choose to react to those inevitable bumps in the road. This mindset can lead not only to personal transformation but also to the growth and resilience of our businesses and teams. So, I challenge you: Practice being an owner of all circumstances. Recognize your power to shape your journey, no matter the obstacles. And I'm curious—what's one step you can take today towards owning your path more fully? Drop your thoughts or stories below. Get after it! #MindsetShift #LeadershipGrowth #TakeOwnership #EmpowermentMindset #NoMoreVictim

The Transformative Power of Ownership Mindset Many years ago, my manager shared a profound insight about ownership that left a lasting impact on my career. "You've got to think as if you are three levels above - identify the issue for the business, find solutions, and get input from others." At that time, I didn't fully grasp the depth of this advice. I thought I'd be fine as long as I could excel at my own job. However, as time went on, I began to realize the significance of the ownership mindset. As Albert Einstein wisely noted, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." It's about thinking as if you own the business, as if you are your boss, as if you are your boss's boss, as if you are the CEO of the company. This perspective shift is nothing short of transformative. When you adopt this mindset: 🔹 You become more attuned to the bigger picture, understanding how your role fits into the larger business landscape. 🔹 You proactively identify issues and work on solutions that benefit not just you but the entire organization. 🔹 You seek input from colleagues and foster a collaborative environment that drives innovation. 🔹 You become a leader in your own right, taking initiative and driving positive change. 🔹 You set a standard of excellence that inspires those around you. Today, I can attest that the ownership mindset has been a game-changer in my career. It's a reminder that we all have the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of our current roles. Have you had a similar experience that transformed your perspective on work and leadership? Share your stories below! 👇 #BuildResilience #GiftedCoaching #BookWriting  #OwnershipMindset #Leadership #CareerGrowth #Transformation #BusinessInsight