If we want to enjoy a certain quality of life or environment, we’ve got to take ownership of it, and step up.
We all want something a little more. That may be financial, it could be the type of place we live in, or a desire to help more people. The hard truth is that it is up to us. It is not always easy to swallow this, but it is the truth. When we get a handle on it, it actually helps us. It’s up to us to take ownership of these things.
Extreme Ownership
‘Extreme Ownership’ is the title of a book written by two former navy SEALS and business consultants, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. They apply what they learned in the service to leadership in all types of businesses. The concept all hinges on taking 100% ownership of our results. When we accept the responsibility for what we have, and getting the results we want, that’s when we can really see big leaps.
Apply It
The same concept applies to all areas of life and business. That means all the different metrics in our businesses. How many deals you are closing, the profit margins, and the amount of growth. It also applies to how much free time we have, the level of lifestyle we are living, how much money we have or not, the satisfaction we are getting in our work, and our happiness level.
Yes, things happen. There are a whole universe of forces in action out there. Many seem to be out of our control. The government, the economy, the weather, and the number of hours in a day. Yet, once we dig in, we can take a lot more ownership for the outcomes. Maybe we didn’t vote in an election we could have. Maybe we could have had more insurance, or done more research to better anticipate market changes. Maybe we could have invested a little more time and money in our real estate education. Maybe we could have made different job choices. Hindsight is always 20/20. That’s all in the past. The good news is that we can apply this same concept now to design our lives and lifestyle, our businesses, and even our influence on the environment our kids will grow up in.
Step 1: Take Ownership
It starts with accepting it, and taking ownership. Begin with recognizing that what you get is going to rely on what you do. From here on out, you are in control of your future.
Step 2: Decide What You Want
If you can design the future of your business and life; what do you want it to look like?
Step 3: Decide on a Course of Action
What can you do to bring your desired outcomes to life? What career or business paths can you choose to increase your time and money? What types of causes can you start or support to make your community and city, and the world more like the way you’d like it to be, and for your kids to grow up in? What can you do to grow your business and investment results, and to build in sustainability? If you aren’t sure of all the details, where can you learn more, and who can you ask?
Step 4: Take Action
Be the change. Some people take this responsibility as a burden. Others enjoy it as a privilege. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to design your life. It feels great putting your ideas on paper. It feels even better when you are taking the steps and are clocking up results. It may take some work and dedication, but that also makes each little victory and accomplishment even sweeter.
Step 5: Repeat
Make this process an annual review. Take inventory of your results and situation. Go through the steps of planning and setting new actions. Don’t forget to pay it forward either. One of the most rewarding things is passing this type of knowledge on to others, and seeing what they can achieve with it for themselves and those around them.
