Owning The Outcome Of Everything In My Orbit | How Taking Full Responsibility Has Driven My Growth As A Man

Photo by Foto Sushi on Unsplash

Taking ownership of every outcome in my orbit, even when I don’t really have to, has brought about the most growth and led to the most progress I have made over the years.

My orbit includes EVERYTHING around me.

NO EXCUSES. NO BLAME.

When things go wrong around me the first thing I do is own the outcome. If a negative outcome was in any way connected to me through my family, my work, or my own actions I own the result and move onto resolution immediately.

In a nutshell…..if it’s in my life I take ownership of every aspect of it. I’ll say it again, this covers EVERYTHING!

This sets up several favorable environments:

First, it eliminates the wasted energy that results from finger pointing. All the nonsense goes away when someone steps up and says…..”this is on me.”

Second, when I take ownership of the outcome I also take ownership of the solution. This puts someone in charge and that always pushes problems toward solution faster.

Third, I grow. The combination of self-discipline, self-satisfaction, pride, and experience that comes from being the bigger man and taking the path of most resistance as opposed to the path of least resistance builds self-mastery skills and confidence like nothing else can.

This key principle, that of taking ownership of the outcome of everything around me, is not easy. In fact, at times can be extremely difficult especially when I am 100% certain that a negative outcome that occurred in my orbit had little to do with any direct action of mine.

Regardless of how difficult it can be at times the value cannot be denied.

When I raise my hand and step up as the man responsible for all outcomes around me I stop feeling like a victim of life’s circumstances. Instead, I feel like the commander in chief, in full control of my life. The man everyone around me can count on. The man I am proud to be.

There is no feeling like it in the world.

I have been practicing a version of total ownership for many years but when I read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink a few years ago I really upped my game. I had been selectively taking ownership of some outcomes around me but after reading Jocko’s book I went all in and committed 100%.

I am a better man because of it.

Check out Jocko’s book HERE.

As with anything, there are of course nuances and things to remember about taking ownership of everything around you.

People still need to be held responsible for poor or irresponsible behavior. We do not want to be letting everyone off the hook for everything.

That’s not what this is about.

Taking ownership of everything in your orbit is about conflict resolution, problems solving, responsibility, learning, and teaching.

We want to teach and help those around us grow at all times but let your response to negative outcomes be part of the lesson that comes after resolution. We can’t forget this important element of this discussion.

Onward!

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Steve Miller

Entrepreneur, Sales and Marketing Consultant, Mental Toughness Adviser, student of Self-Mastery. Founder at The Manly Club website, leader of The Manly Club Facebook Group with over 15,000 members. Outdoor enthusiast, weather buff, muscle car lover, cabin nut. Loving life up here in the PNW (Oregon) with my beautiful wife and two young sons.

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