Recently, I looked at my boss and wished that I could take the kind of ownership of my job that he takes. His job is his own. Not somewhere he HAS to be, but the place to go to get his LIFE done. I decided to make the necessary changes so that my job was my life, my contribution, not just the place I have to go to get the bills paid. I decided to own my work and make it just like the other parts of my life that were already my own. Oh, by the way, did I mention that this new attitude got me a $12,000 raise????

I decided to change my attitude. I don’t work for the MAN. I work for myself to improve the lives of our clients. For that I feel I am fairly paid, and satisfied. I am not yet done. In a few months I will have my MBA and be in enrolled in law school. No, I am not 25 and single. 5 children and a demanding career and husband. Take accountability and own your life.

No, I am not always happy, pretty stressed out at times, but always satisfied that I am living my life, not blaming, watching or blaming the MAN.

Quoting “for the reminder (to me) and the wake-up call (to us all)!”

Just speak for yourself and leave all others out “(to us all)!”

All new choices I have made in life have come when I am the first one to own up to my failed choices. What has happened to me is over a lifetime my choices have steadily improved. To thine own self be true . . . and let others take care of their growth. When I lead, and go get the damn ketchup when needed to complete any task at work, home, or just in everyday life, I’ve learned that worthwhile people will respond and will follow.

Kathy, “The Power 50″ are those who “Just get some damn ketchup.”
I use the triangle as my success model. It is thin at the top, but ALL at the top have one thing in common, THEY KNOW WHERE THE KETCHUP IS LOCATED AND WILL NEVER HESITATE TO GO GET IT!

Well, I don’t think with the word “fault” or “who’s fault” is what goes through my mind. This seems like a “Only child” or “The world owes me” syndrome.

For me it is more of… “o.k. this happened, it sucks, but I can fix it.”

Because I take responsibility and then say it can be fixed or replaced, then I can solve it…I own it. I have control.

Owning = responsibility.

but that doesn’t bother me because I have control. Often people don’t mind me taking on the responsibility. What is cool about it is the benefits of “Owning”…knowledge, assets, power, efficiency from learning from mistakes, and retiring early because I played the risk right because I have so much relevant experience.

Owning = Risk.

Risk used in a rational way is rare.

People who climb the food chain are not afraid of “who’s fault”. They are worried that they might lose control over their future. Control = risk, control= responsibility. Control means getting past what is broken.

from Upstate NY

Or as Buckwheat Zydeco sang (and I’ll send this MP3 to Kathy Howe. Pronto, I promise):

“Make a change in your life,
Make it for the better.”

When I have clients doing the ‘victim’ thing and blaming everything and everyone I always ask ’so what are YOU doing that’s getting you these results?’ and I don’t let them off the hook until they’ve identified it. Stops them dead in their tracks every time.

“Don’t become a victim of yourself. Forget about the thief waiting in the alley; what about the thief in your mind?”

Florinda - I am so glad this post was a helpful reminder! I was a little concerned that I might come across as rude, uncaring or offensive!!