Give a Damn!

The unsexy edge that changes everything.

Let’s just say it:

We don’t get paid for our skills.

We get paid to give a damn!

To aim our skills.

To apply our thinking.

To show up in a way that says:

“This matters. And I’m all in.”

Whether you’re hiring, building, or hunting for your next big role - that’s what we’re all really looking for.

People who give a shit.

So what does that actually mean?

Because it’s not about being nice. Or loud. Or emotionally attached.

Giving a damn is action.

It’s tangible.

It’s pointing to the thing and saying:

“I did that. I’m doing this. I care about where this is going.”

It’s responsibility without being asked.

It’s ownership without entitlement.

It’s follow-through even when the energy’s gone.

Not motivation, but identity.

There’s a reason high-performance operators score like entrepreneurs on personality tests - even if they’ve never launched a company.

It’s not about their title.

It’s about their approach.

You’ve probably heard this quote;

“How you do one thing is how you do everything”

To me words really matter, so I prefer;

“How you APPROACH one thing is how you APPROACH everything”

We act like owners.

Not because of equity — but because of integrity.

Skill issue? Or will issue?

This is the real interview.

Is it a gap in capability - or commitment?

We hire for character and teach for skill.

Because the best people?

They learn fast.

They experiment.

They apply.

They figure it out.

Shelf-development is everywhere: books, courses, podcasts.

Sure it’s a positive habit, but it’s over-consumption at its worst.

So until those inputs turn into action and behavior, it’s just hoarding with a nice front.

How this shows up in personal life

We know what works.

Move your body. Eat clean. Rest well.

Every self-help post in history agrees.

So why don’t most do it?

Because it’s not a knowledge problem — it’s a give a damn problem.

And that’s the crazy part:

In these instances, we are the sole recipients of these benefits.

The energy, the confidence, the clarity — we get all of it.

And still… most skip it.

The shift comes when we stop waiting to feel motivated —

and start acting like we actually care about our future self.

That competent version of us isn’t built through hype.

It’s built through habits that hurt a little now… and pay off for years.

Giving a damn in your personal life is the ultimate self-respect!

How this applies to professional life

Most companies say they want “accountability.”

What they mean is:

People who give a damn - without being chased.

Here’s what that looks like:

• You show up like it’s your Brand (even if it’s not).

• You don’t just complete tasks - you own the outcomes.

• You call things early. Fix things quietly. Move without waiting.

The best operators act like founders - whether they have shares or not.

Because they see themselves in the work.

They care deeply about the mission, the people, the impact -

and they translate that care into consistency.

Giving a damn isn’t about burning out.

It’s about plugging your energy into what actually matters -

and doing it with clarity, conviction, and zero performance theatre.

So yeah… give a damn.

Not performatively.

Not loudly.

But undeniably.

In how we show up.

In what we touch.

In the way people feel when we’re on it.

It’s not a trend.

It’s not a slogan.

It’s a decision.

And it might just be the difference between drifting… and building something that lasts.