The hardest leadership lesson I ever learned?
If something fails, it’s on me. No excuses.

I recently reread Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, and one line stuck with me: "There are no bad teams, only bad leaders."

That resonated deeply.

It reminded me how much my own thinking has shifted over time. In my early leadership roles, I was quick to defend why something wasn’t my fault. 

I’d point to a broken process.
Or another team.
Or the timeline.
Or unclear communication. 

But here’s what I’ve learned:
- Ownership isn’t about blame.
- Ownership is about responsibility.
- It’s about taking action — no matter who made the mistake — to move forward.

When a leader steps up and says “I take responsibility,” it gives everyone else permission to focus on solutions, not finger-pointing.

And it doesn’t just apply to mistakes. It applies to everything… accomplishing the mission, developing business strategy, building company culture… all of it.

If you lead anything — a team, a project, even just yourself — try asking:
- Where am I holding back ownership?
- What excuses am I letting stand in the way?
- What can I take responsibility for right now?

Because excuses can’t fix problems, ownership can.

Lead with intention. Grow with purpose.