LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU OWN IT

"One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility."

Eleanor Roosevelt, 20th century American politician

The choices you make are your responsibility.

Put excuses aside, do what is right, what you said you would do.

THE HARDEST YOU'LL EVER NOT WORK

"Nothing is the hardest thing in the world to do."

Unknown

Ever wish you'd wake up independently wealthy, never having to work again?

Or maybe you're nearing retirement and can't wait for the time when you have absolutely nothing to do.

Nothing.

Think about it.

IF NOT YOU, WHO?

"Ownership is to fear."

Proverb

Because we fear losing what we own or being associated with having ownership for ideas and plans that ultimately may prove false. 

Or simply because ownership requires effort and work.

There's no denying; that is the price of ownership.

Ownership implies accepting responsibility, being responsible; something we can never do too often or be too much.

WHAT IS YOUR DUTY?

"Without duty, life is sort of boneless; it cannot hold itself together."

Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French moralist.

We all need to be responsible for something and what that is changes over time.

Identify what is and will be for you.

ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY

"There can be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises."

Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) English novelist.

Increasingly more so today.

People, if you did it and you shouldn't have, if you didn't and you should have, say so.

NO EXCUSES!

"No alibi will save you from accepting the responsibility."

Napoleon Hill (1883-1970) American speaker/motivational writer

I wish this were always true but unfortunately it's not.

Pay attention to how many excuses you hear given for why things didn't get done.

And when it falls to you, either do it or accept responsibility for not doing it. 

IT WASN'T ME

"No one should be ashamed to admit they are wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that they are wiser today than they were yesterday."

Alexander Pope (1688-1744) English poet and satirist

Good to remember if you are one who has trouble accepting responsibility when you are wrong.

As Mr. Pope says it simply means today was not your day but tomorrow could be.

YOU DON'T (ALWAYS) HAVE TO BE RIGHT

"Be more aware of responsibility than you are of your rights."

Unknown

When it comes to . . . 

   . . . your dealings with co-workers.

   . . .  family relations.

   . . . a bicyclist riding in the road ahead of you.

Literally everyone you can think of in every situation.

You Can Only Spend What You've Got

"A great fortune in the hands of a fool is a great misfortune."

Unknown

Administer budgets wisely or they'll soon be little to administer at all.

The Managerial Responsibility

"Jesting is often only indigence of intellect."

Jean de la  Bruyere

17th century French satirist

Not always but enough so to (hopefully) cause you to pause and think about what you say.

Particularly if you are in a position of power.

Personal Responsibility

"There is no more sovereign eloquence than the truth in indignation."

Victor Hugo

19th century French poet, novelist

You know indignation aimed at you when you not only feel it, but believe it deserved as well.

But the important question is, what then?

What will you do to set things right?

I Know You Don't Mean Me!

"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits."

Mark Twain

19th century American author/humorist

How many of your company's problems are directly or indirectly your fault?

Really?

Not Me!

"Opposition may be sweet to a man when he has christened it persecution."

George Eliot

19th century British writer

When involved in a dispute, it isn't human nature to see ourselves as the problem is it?

Him/her, not me.

But never?  Ever?  Really??

Enough To Let Them Hang Themselves?

"The first mistake are theirs who commit them, the second are theirs who permit them."

Proverb

Along the lines of "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me".

Increasingly management does not have the luxury of being fooled even the first time.

How much "rope" do you let out?

I Can Explain!

"The accidental reveals man."

Pablo Picasso

20th century Spanish painter

Accidents do happen but if you find you are often explaining your failures as being the result of things beyond your control . . .

Whether stated clearly as such or not, one of management's greatest responsibilities is to reduce "accidents".

121

"Life's heaviest burden is having nothing to carry."

Unknown

My son asked if I would help an early 20's friend of his, network for a job.

Absolutely; the friend is a well educated all-round great guy who has the misfortune of needing a job in one of the worst economic times any of us can remember.

That got me thinking about doing more than just help in those random one-off situations.

What about establishing an informal, all volunteer, 1 to 1 ("121"), generally but not always older person to younger person, free job mentor program, matching those who need jobs with those who know the people who have the jobs?

Those looking for a job must still prepare themselves with education, training, etc., but those of us with established careers and contacts could proactively open our networks to them, coaching them as needed.  

Approximately 90% of the workforce has a job, which means 1 out of 10 don't.  Why can't the 9 of us who do help the 1 who doesn't?  And this would not be limited to just college graduates; everyone needs something to "carry".

As of now, just a thought but one I intend to act on.  Let me know if you would like to be involved.

Bill Matthies
wmatthies@coyoteinsight.com

714 726-2901

The Company Or You?

"It is not I who became addicted it is my body."

Jean Cocteau

20th century French film maker

Have you ever worked in a company where you found yourself saying, "It's not me it's them."?

Was it?

At what point is the company you, or at least the accumulation of its employees, one of which is you?

I Had Nothing To Do With It (Unless It Worked)

 A tyrant's authority for crime and a fool's excuse for failure."

Ambrose Bierce

19th century American journalist/writer

It kind of is that isn't it?

When we have no explanation for our bad behavior or failures, we call it destiny, as if we had no control over the outcome.

Do you recall a time when you succeeded at something, saying "I had nothing to do with it, it was destiny"?

I Am My Brother's Whistle Blower?

"The first faults are theirs that commit them, the second theirs that permit them."

English proverb

So if you see your company doing something inappropriate you have an obligation to speak up, correct?

Never, sometimes, always?

The Role of Blame in Problem Solving

"A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes."

Russell H. Ewing
Mid 20th century British journalist

The April 14th edition of the Los Angeles Times has a good story on the blame fixing arguments now going on in Toyota.

Do you need to assign blame before you can correct a problem?

Is there a difference between placing blame on one person or group as opposed to identifying who is responsible for the problem?