The Story Behind I’ll Go First.
The Story Behind I’ll Go First.
How a Saturday parkrun sparked a movement about courage, boundaries and becoming the one who leads.
It started — as many good things do — with a run.
Most Saturdays, I show up at parkrun. Not chasing PBs. Not trying to beat anyone. Just showing up. Moving. Breathing. Being part of something.
And on one of those mornings, mid-run, the metaphor landed hard:
This is what business is. This is life. This is leadership.
We all show up at the same time.
We’re all on the course.
But no two people experience the same race.
I’ll Go First. A Metaphor for Movement, Purpose & Leadership
That run became more than a workout — it became a framework. What started as a quiet realisation about showing up evolved into the six-part model that now shapes my work, my leadership, and this movement.
Here it is — woven with wisdom from the thinkers who inspire me most.
1. The Start Line — Choosing to Begin
You don’t wait for perfect weather or approval. You lace up and go.
This is the moment of self-trust — when courage matters more than consensus.
"If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it."
– Mel Robbins, The 5 Second Rule
2. The Course — Your Unique Path
Everyone’s on the same route, but no two people run it the same.
Some sprint. Some walk. Some tie their laces three times. And yes, some shout advice from the sidelines to throw you off your path.
‘‘No one’s going to take you seriously.’’
‘‘You’ll never be able to do it.’’
“That’s a bit ambitious.”
‘‘Who do you think you are?”
Tara Mohr reminds us: not all feedback is equal, and Mel Robbins reminds us to ‘‘Let Them’’
Before you listen, ask:
Does this feedback reflect my goals and values?
Is it from someone who understands my journey?
This is the boundary work.
This is Radical Candor in action, a concept by Kim Scott, is about giving feedback that balances:
Care personally(you care about the person you're giving feedback to)
Challenge directly(you’re honest, clear, and don’t hold back truth)
Feedback should come from those who:
Know the terrain
Care about your outcome
Are willing to get muddy alongside you
3. The Pacers & Volunteers — Your Support Crew
These are the people in high-vis. The ones who show up early, check the route, cheer from the corners and will run for the defib!
“I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter. To be on that list, you have to love me for my strengths and struggles.”
— Brené Brown, Daring Greatly
This is your inner circle.
They don’t need you to win — they just want you to keep going because they believe in you.
4. Others on the Path — Co-Running, Not Competing
There’s room for everyone.
You don’t need to prove why you’re not chasing a PB.
You don’t owe anyone a sprint.
Cheering for someone else doesn’t slow you down — it strengthens your stride.
This is the difference between comparison and connection.
Between pressure and presence.
5. The Finish Line — Meet Your Future Self
This is where Tara Mohr’s visualisation lives.
Imagine arriving at the end of your course — and meeting your future self.
She’s wise. Grounded. Proud.
She doesn’t care how fast you ran.
She cares that you showed up. That you kept going. That you stayed true to your path.
Ask her:
What mattered most?
What did she build?
Who did she bring with her?
What did she let go of?
This is legacy over perfection.
6. The Compass — What Feels True - Your Values.
This is where purpose lives — not in metrics or medals, but in the quiet knowing inside you.
It’s the gut feeling.
The clarity.
The sense that this is mine to do.
It’s your inner mentor.
It’s alignment over approval.
And it’s always there — if you’re brave enough to listen.
This Is What I Believe
I believe it takes real confidence and deep vulnerability to go first.
I believe women — and many brilliant, purpose-led people — are holding back.
Not because they lack ability. But because they’ve been trained to wait until they’re ready or feel they aren’t good enough.
This model is a call to courage.
To lead from empathy.
To protect your energy.
To move — even if your voice shakes.
To go first so others can follow.
Because sometimes all it takes is one person —
To raise a hand.
To ask the question.
To speak the truth.
To step onto the course.
And when they do?
It changes everything. .
And that’s when the phrase landed in my gut:
“I’ll go first.”
That park run metaphor became the seed of the I’ll Go First theory.
And from that seed, a model grew.
The I’ll Go First™ Model — 6 Anchors of Purpose-Led Leadership
What began as a conversation about running turned into something far deeper — a framework for leading with courage, integrity, and empathy, even when (especially when) fear is present.
Here’s what it looks like:
1. The Decision
Choose to begin.
Not because you’re fearless. But because you’re willing. I’ll Go First™ moment is that exact window — the beat before self-doubt kicks in. Instead of counting backwards, the model gives you a mantra that grounds and propels:
“I’ll go first.”
(…and I trust myself to handle what comes next. Use this model to help with what comes next, say it/do it anyway).
2. The Path
Your way is your own.
Honour your pace. Trust your gut.
3. The Support
Let in only those who earn their place beside you.
Not all feedback deserves your energy. (Tara Mohr taught me that.)
“Get a one-inch by one-inch piece of paper and write down the names of people whose opinions of you matter. It needs to be small because it forces you to edit.”
— Brené Brown, Dare to Lead
4. The Community
Walk with others.
You go first so others can follow. Brene Brown calls these your arena people — the ones who’ve earned the right to witness your courage. “If you're not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I'm not interested in your feedback.” Brene Brown
5. The Vision
Lead with your future self in mind.
Start with the end in mind, as Stephen Covey says. You’re not just building something. You’re building a legacy.
“To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you're going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.”— Stephen R. Covey
6. The Compass
Alignment over approval.
The gut knows. Purpose is your guide. Trust the quiet yes inside you more than the noise around you. It’s about recognising the activities and causes that bring you joy and using them as a compass for your actions.
‘‘Identifying what lights you up, you can maintain enthusiasm and creativity in your efforts to create change’’ - Karen Walrond.
This model is a call to action.
A framework for those who lead with heart, even when their hands shake.
A reminder that leadership starts with someone saying:
“I’ll go first.”
Not because they know the way - (you will once you start using the model).
But because they know it matters.
This movement is for:
The quiet voice with the bold idea
The founder who’s afraid she’ll get it wrong
The mother, maker, leader, learner who keeps showing up
The woman waiting for a sign — this is it
If this speaks to you — you’re already on the path.
Take a breath.
Step up.
Say it with me: I’ll go first.