Take Ownership
“Be accountable and responsible. Be someone who can be counted upon, someone who responds.”
Ownership is the quality of accountability and responsibility. It’s the ability to be counted upon and the
willingness to take responsibility for the choices you make. It also means taking responsibility to make
change happen, whether it’s self-improvement, a personal goal, or a global issue. It means participating
in the world to make a difference.
When you take responsibility for your life, you begin to make things happen. You have greater control
because you stop blaming things outside yourself for your current situation. You take ownership of your
career, relationships, financial status, education, or other areas of your life. You can create a huge shift
in your life simply by taking ownership of your attitude.
This was the case for Walter “Buddy” Davis, who contracted polio at age eight and was told he would
never walk again. Under such circumstances, no one could have faulted him if he’d become depressed
and withdrawn, denying he had a problem, or using the problem as an excuse for his lack of
achievement. But Buddy chose another approach. He took responsibility for his life and promised
himself that not only would he walk again, but someday he would run. And did he ever! In fact, he won
an Olympic gold medal and set a new world record for the high jump. Buddy took ownership of his
attitude and it changed his life.
The Ownership Game
We can think of ownership as a game we play. As per the
diagram, there are two ways to play the game of ownership:
Playing above the line
Playing below the line
Playing above the line means taking responsibility, being
accountable you’re your actions, and looking for solutions – in
other words, taking ownership. Playing above the line leads to
greater freedom, trust, and success. Rather than being
controlled by circumstances, you determine your own actions.
Playing below the line means blaming other for your mistakes,
justifying your actions, denying them, or just quitting before
you reach your goal. You act as if circumstances are out of your
control; it’s not your fault and there’s nothing you can do about
it. Playing below the line is living in complacency and inaction.
It’s easy, but you don’t get anywhere.
To be successful, play above the line. If you make a mistake, step up and take ownership of it. If you see
something that needs to be done, take action and do it. Think of responsibility as “respond-ability.” The
ability to respond to what happens to you, rather than just accepting it. It takes action to make things
happen.
Check this out!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuKbdll8_6Q&feature=em-share_video_user
DePorter, Bobbi (2000). The 8 Keys of Excellence: Principles to Live By. Learning Forum Publications:
California, 149-152.