Becoming an "upstreamist" involves adopting a proactive and preventive approach to addressing problems, focusing on their root causes rather than just dealing with the symptoms or consequences. This concept can be applied in every aspect of public safety and personal development. Going upstream is a declaration of personal agency; we don't have to accept the way things are. Through this presentation, we will learn from the Octopus, Abraham Lincoln, and the Chicago Bulls— to name a few.