Who is accountable for you?
Welcome back!
Accountability
When I was in my mid twenties. I started my company in my living room with a $300 investment, making 100 cold calls a day. Within six months we were doing well enough to move into a shop. We had our ups and downs, of course, but over the long term we grew and within a few years we had a tangible product and were successful enough where I decided to buy a BMW. The salesmen opened up the showroom for me and I drove off in a brand new car from the showroom floor, something that a few years before would have seemed crazy! The company was doing well, and being the person that was in charge, I took accountability for our success. That’s the easy part, right? Everyone likes to take credit for the good times.
Well, shortly after buying the car, I made a bad decision that hurt the company. It wasn’t so bad that I needed to sell the new car to make ends meet, but I knew it was my fault, and that I had to take accountability for my actions. You can’t take credit for the good times if you’re not accountable for the bad times. So, I stuck that brand new car in the garage for six months and drove around my old Junker until I’d mended the mistake I had made. I didn’t need to do that, of course. I was the boss after all, but in my mind I needed to take accountability for my mistake, otherwise I’d lose my edge and quit making good decisions. Because what it comes down to is when you quit taking accountability for your actions, you’re taking fate out of your hands. You are letting someone else take accountability for your actions and when you do that, who knows what the outcome will be?
Sadly, too often I see people with no sense of accountability. They are so worried about protecting themselves or putting someone else on the hook. Therefore, nobody is accountable of anyone’s action.
I once slipped on a broken bottle in the grocery store and the store employees came rushing to help me, worried and eager to do whatever they could to appease me. They were worried I would sue the store, of course, and that they would get in trouble. And while I understand that it’s their responsibility to make sure the store isles are clean, it was honestly my fault that I tripped. I simply was not paying attention to where I was walking. I was embarrassed. The last thing I was thinking about was suing the store, but that’s often the way our society thinks and it’s this type of attitude that keeps us from taking control of our lives, this attitude that we can blame someone else or sue someone else when things don’t turn out our way.
We must take responsibility for our actions, good or bad, otherwise we’re letting someone else (or no one!) be in control of our lives.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Perfect comic!
Good story and insights. I’m a believer in owning your issues and making stuff happen. Blaming is ineffective and it’s faster to change yourself than change other people … so accountability is one your fastest and most effective tools for results.
Hi Giovanna. Accountability encourages us to stretch I believe. The opportunity to take responsibility evolves as we reach new levels of development. It’s great that you are seeing this in yourself. You inspire it in others.
Hi Giovanna, I agree SO much. In the corporate world, I’ve learned that the people who succeed tend to be the ones who never take accountability for anything unless it’s good, and I just can’t bare to be that way, which is why I want out of that world!
People need to take responsibility for their actions. That would solve so many problems that we, as a society have. I think that the way you put it is the most powerful though. When you are accountable for your own life, you’re in control. Thus, you are not a victim of circumstance.
Hi Giovanna,
Soon or later, those who dare to take responsibilities are those who will be trusted by others.
Thanks for the post, Gio. It was great.
Giovanna, your story was fantastic. The fact you parked your car until you straightened up your problem shows a great deal of courage. Thanks for sharing this. Stumbled.
Hello Giovanna,
We all need to do that, be accountable for the things that we do good and bad. Thank you for this post.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
Hi J.D.
All we can do is to try to change ourselves for the better.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your wisdom.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Davina
I am just work on being the best person I can be everyday, and along the way I hope to make some impact on others.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Trey
I just got off the phone with the retied Police Chief of San Francisco, and we were just talking about how we can build a better society. And it all start with being accountable and giving out our best.
Thanks for your comment and joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Arswino
Well said, my friend. If we wished to be trusted, we have to be accountable.
Thanks for your comment and being a part of this post.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Stephen
Thanks for the kind word. For me, every thing that I do have to mean something, the good or the bad. Thanks for the stumble and your support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Deanna
If everyone is accountable for their actions, good or bad. The world will be a better place. And what we can do is to start with ourselves.
Thanks for your comment and support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action