365 Secrets of Success

15. Understand the Importance of Taking Full Responsibility…

All my mistakes belong to me! Even the ones I do by mistake.

OK, enough tongue-in-cheek word-twisting – what do I mean by this statement?

Well, I’ll be honest here – I still find this secret of success something of a challenge. It’s easier, after all, to find some external reason why I am not successful in any given area of my life. I play the blame game all too easily. But I know that for as long as I play that game, I am losing, not winning.

Taking full responsibility means that I must acknowledge my role even in the decisions that I do without noticing; I must accept that my carelessness also contributes to my responsibility.

Let me clarify: there are things that I don’t do, that I don’t think about, that still have consequences to others.

Have you every experienced the shock of being found wanting, and you didn’t know there was a problem until it was pointed out?

What is your first reaction?

Is it to put your hands up, admit that it’s your fault, and begin to work out an action plan to put things right?

Or do you feel a rush of anger, or victimization, being quick to point the finger towards your circumstances or others around you who haven’t played their part in fulfilling what was required?

I told you I found this a challenge.

BUT – and this is an important point I am wanting to make here, so listen up if your thoughts are already beginning to spiral as you read the above – if you can get this lesson right, if you CAN take full responsibility for your actions as well as your inactions, THEN you will see a radical shift in your success.

I hope the above wasn’t too ‘between the eyes’ – I just want to make it clear that taking full responsibility is one of the most important secrets that successful people have learned.

They don’t take it personally. They have learned the value of teamwork, masterminding, rubbing shoulders with others..all as an incredibly important part of the learning curve of life. In fact, they see this secret as one the keys to unlock doors that remain shut for the vast majority of people.

Why is it so difficult to accept this key for so many?

The answer lies in the word judgement. None of wants to feel judged by others. We all want to be accepted. We don’t want to be found wanting.

The truth however, is that we are all found to be wanting in some areas of our lives. None of us is complete on our own.

That is the whole point of being in a team, community or masterminding group.

You learn that within the context of being accountable to others, you find a safe place to allow people to correct, challenge and guide.

So, the takeaway here is to find such a group of people with whom you can hone your skills, increase and mature your strengths, and improve upon your weaknesses.

If you’ve not found such a community, click on my name below, and let’s chat. If you have some insights – share them below.

Dez.