To be a leader in your startup you need to show up. No matter how hard it is.
When things are good you want to be there to celebrate. When things are bad you have to be there to inspire your team.
Samuel E. Jonah, former CEO of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation and later President of AngloGold Ashanti, was famous for often walking parts of the mines early in the morning before work. This inspired the miners; reminding them of his career roots in underground operations. It also gave him insight into how things were going on the front lines.
This time underground, in an industry where executives are typically confined to boardrooms or high-level meetings, played a role in turning AngloGold into a multinational mining house. He drastically improved output and oversaw the company when it became the first operating African company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.