Taking Ownership – The Key to Life and Business Success

By Action Coach Dave Beam

If you have attended an Action event, or have had a coaching session with me, this one will be familiar.  Today, I want you to consider the distinction between being an OWNER versus being a VICTIM.

It is our classic concept of living above the line.  Here it is:

OWNERSHIP
ACCOUNTABILITY               OWNER
RESPONSIBILITY
----------------------------------------------
BLAME
EXCUSES                               VICTIM
DENIAL

As you face life and all it brings, you choose to be victor by staying above the line, or you choose to be a victim by staying below the line.  You can determine where you are by listening to your language and observing your actions. An owner responds to circumstances and takes action.  A victim fears and procrastinates.  An owner faces what’s real and true.  A victim hides behind excuses and blame and/or lives in denial.  An owner is accountable for the results that are in his world.  The victim denies that he is responsible for his world.  The owner chooses to serve others, but refuses to live to please them.  The victim worries about what others think of him and vainly tries to please them.  The owner chooses to, and the victim has to.  The owner creates, the victim reacts.  The owner replaces fear with action.  The victim freezes in fear.  The owner takes action in the present, and the victim regrets the past or dreams about the future.  The victim asks “why?”, and the owner asks “why not?”  The owner fills his mind with gratitude, and the victim fills his thoughts with aggravation and regret. 

Whatever you are facing today, I encourage you to CHOOSE to be above the line, and refuse to be a victim.  Circumstances are what they are.  Other people will think what they think and do what they do.  You can either choose your thoughts, create, and take action, or you can feel, fear, and freeze.