"Owning comes before Doing"

The drama we call the end of the school year is unfolding minute by minute. Anxiety, angst, elation, relief, and all points in between are emotions students, staff, and parents experience. End of Grade, End of Course, Elements, Advanced Placement, Promotion, Selection, Graduation, Retirement, and general uncertainty converge to create a lot of stress for a lot of people. Add the war and rumor of war about budget and we have what many are predicting is the “perfect storm”.

None of us are immune. Each of us works through the circumstances differently. In the end, however, we are confronted with the same challenge – what did we do with what we were given.

Risking redundancy, I return to the definition of Accountability by Connors, Smith & Hickman from their work The Oz Principle (1994; page 65): “Accountability is an attitude of continually asking, what else can I do to rise above my circumstances and achieve the results I desire? It is the process of “seeing it, owning it, solving it, and doing it. It requires a level of ownership that includes making, keeping, and proactively answering for personal commitments. It is a perspective that embraces both current and future efforts rather than reactive and historical explanations.”

I am, again, including this definition of accountability as a reminder to us all.

We have a choice.

We really do.

There is an erroneous belief that circumstances can be controlled. I remember asking one of my son’s how tall he would like to be.

He responded, “My goal is to be 6’5”.

I then asked, “How many of the factors or circumstances do you control to meet or exceed your goal?”

He said, “Hmm … none”

I said, “Rather than height, your goal should be to become the best basketball player irrespective of your height.”

And that is exactly what he has done ‐

The one factor always within our control is our attitude. In fact, I would argue it is the only thing completely within our control.

We choose how we respond to circumstances.

What I appreciate most about this definition is the proactive rather than reactive mindset. I also appreciate the continual challenge of the process of seeing, owning, solving, and doing.

It is easy for many to simply see problems, issues, areas needing improvement, and the like. It is quite a different matter all together to own it especially when you probably had little, if any, role in creating the problem.

This, to me, is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. Owning it combined with a proactive mindset leads to the solving and doing action. I love this – However, breakdowns occur between the solving and doing.

Just as we have a number of individuals accomplished in seeing problems, we have just as many that have solutions. Seldom, if any, do these individuals actually take action to solve the problem.

Those individuals that fail or choose not to own the problem are generally the ones that never do.

Interesting isn’t it.

Failure to own leads to failure to do.

The challenge is not seeing the problem or even solving it. The heart of the matter is literally owning

and doing.

Seeing a problem changes when we own it.

Solving a problem changes when we own it.

Implementing a solution changes when we own it.

As established, this time of year can be overwhelming. Yet, attitude with the application of a process that allows us to rise above circumstances is not only timely but also critical for each individual and the system.

Imagine if you will, navigating through our circumstances proactively rather than reactively.

Imagine, if you will, each of us applying the process of seeing, owning, solving, and doing.

The process is not a quick fix or easy path – we must own our circumstances before we can solve and do.

We must own to move forward.