“If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.” — Thomas J. Watson, Jr

What initially separates the leaders, changemakers, and heroes from everyone else is that they were presented a challenging situation and they stood up.

When everyone else followed the rules, stayed under cover, or took whatever crap they were dealt, they stood up and opted-out.

When everyone else got scared about how they might get pushed back down, they stood up and looked stagnation, injustice, and the status quo in the eye.

We are challenged day in and day out in ways big and small – when we don’t stand up in the small ways, we can’t stand up in the big ways. We get in the habit of sitting and too much sitting makes for weak cores and backbones.

We’re not made for sitting. We’re made for standing, walking, running, jumping, playing, and moving.

You don’t have to come out the gates with a minifesto, movement, charge against the system, or some epic journey. You don’t have to know everything or where it’s all headed. You don’t have to lie to yourself about the fear, uncertainty, and risk you’re facing.

You just have to stand up when it’s your time. Get up and take care of your people. (Click to tweet – thanks!)

p.s. Yes, you. Yes, now. You’ll never be comfortably ready until it’s too late and you find yourself still sitting.