Responsibility is never given, it is taken.

I have had the privilege to have employed 100s of people in my companies combined, which often means I come across them again and sometimes re-engage with some of them. I am proud to see a lot of them have become entrepreneurs and others as well generally doing very well.

There is a clear pattern I see, many people stay at the same level and keep moving companies mistaking change for growth. Every time there is a change, they start building credibility from zero, so they are always looking for jobs!

The only place where I have seen that strategy is if you have exceptional skills, others do not have and demand top price based on almost guaranteed outcomes.

Then there are a few, every year I meet them they are in the same company or doing the same things but in a different skill level.

Here is some difference I have seen:

Historically schools were built by factory owners and meant to create factory workers. Who was asked to do just one thing and wait for orders. It also trains you to buy stuff to feel happy.

The factory worker mindset

  • Always worry about how to justify when something goes wrong.
  • They have this chatter in mind – If I am asked by X I bought this software – I can say “Gartner magic … “etc.
  • Wait for someone to ask you to do things.
  • Take minimum responsibility.
  • Take the minimum risks.
  • Waits for someone to teach new skills.
  • Clock the minimum hours.
  • Expect a raise because one year has passed.

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    The growing craftsman mindset.

  • Aim for doing things beautifully
  • Continuously improve things around you
  • Make mistakes and learn from them.
  • Keep learning skills that can improve the quality of work
  • Expects raise based on company outcome and contribution towards it.
  • Asks what the maximum I can do, instead of the minimum I can get by.

    • When you take responsibility, growth happens naturally.

    If you wait for anyone to give it to you, it results in no growth. Sometimes they are paid more every year to keep the in-depth knowledge of how things work, not for the new skills they have to build tomorrow’s things. Which means they become costly and obsolete with time.

    Take responsibility – do not wait for it to be given.

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