Saying something: Part Sixteen - Ownership

 I had an idea a while back to do a little series of posts about things I've learned and applied to my personal and professional life. I'll keep these posts quite short but hope someone reads something they can fit into their own life of they can use to good effect. Three words I value greatly are *ownership, responsibility and discipline* and this (and the next two posts in this series) will focus on one of them. *** *** #### Ownership This is a small word with a broad scope when applied to a person's life; it can bring immense personal benefit, transform a life in such positive ways if used correctly, and conversely the lack of ownership can have negative effects, hold a person back (or carry them backwards) and prevent progression, development and growth. There's so many ways a person can show and take ownership and knowing when and how is one of the most important elements; I don't have all the answers, I'm not that smart (no one is), but with a mindset that causes me to apply ownership to myself, thoughts, attitudes and actions, and my life generally I feel I've positioned myself in better ways to find the results I've sought. It's not always easy, taking ownership can be confronting, uncomfortable and even awkward although it speaks highly of one's character if it's applied. Shifting blame to others is a lack of ownership and blame itself is negative. The failure to say sorry and mean it is a lack of ownership and will effect a person negatively from other people's perspective and from one's own. Making excuses for failure, defeat or poor results is a lack of ownership and is something the weak-minded will do in an attempt to preserve their ego and pride. Negative. Accepting blame or guilt and finding solutions is ownership. Knowing when to say sorry, why and how (and meaning it) is ownership. Evaluating performance and results and finding better ways forward after a defeat or failure is ownership. There's a few examples above and while they may be difficult to do...they're really not...it just takes intelligence (mental and emotional) and the right ethos when it comes to the journey of life. Ownership is, in my opinion, critical to a person's life if they want to live their best version of it. . What do you think? How have you shown personal ownership and have there been times you have not? Feel free to comment.