When you develop an ear for ownership, it reveals a lot.
- Yeah, but . . . .
- They must be thinking . . .
- If you didn’t . . . .
- I couldn’t because . . .
- They are . . .
- How could they . . .
It is not that others don’t get in our way, it is that we quickly dismiss movement for ourselves because of something they did.
When I started my business, a dear friend told me to read Do The Work by Steven Pressfield and The Dip by Seth Godin. Both have become constant reminders and equippers for me when I need to manage through these moments. When you are engaged in meaningful work with great people, it is surprising how often it happens.
The biggest barrier for big companies to act like small companies is ownership. Blaming accounting or the person who is going through a divorce and off their game or blaming others because they don’t get your ‘situation’ is the easy way out. Jumping in to do something is actually harder, because it involves more work for you and maybe a good argument about priorities and ownership. In the end, the work has to get done. We need more people willing to go into these moments with a good heart, and a relentless resolve to do the work that matters.
The biggest reason people get stuck OUT of work is ownership. Not that companies don’t do bad things to people in how they handle separations – they do. We just don’t process it and move through those endings well. When we don’t we suffer, and we blame them. Sure it is not fair, and it is also not necessary.
Listen to your words today. Which side of the conversation are you on?