Word of the Year Update: decisions & responsibility.

I’m a process person. Typically, I need time to process my feeling and thoughts on a subject.

Kia sent me a post from The Happiness Project on the subject of Drift several weeks ago. I’ve looked at several times knowing I like it, but not really sure why.

Finally, I noticed this definition from the post. Drift is:

the decision you make by not deciding, or by making a decision that unleashes consequences for which you don’t take responsibility.

What a great challenge. Decide and be responsible.

Make a decision.

You are bombarded with opportunities on a daily basis. Emails offering everything under the sun. Great opportunities in your favorite magazines. Personal inquiries.

It’s all on your shoulders. Make the decision.

If you can’t make the decision, t’s okay. Wait. It’s better to wait – force the momentum to stop than let things roll along without your true approval.

The key is to consciously wait, and choose a time to come back to the decision to finalize.

Everything is your responsibility. It is no one else’s fault.

As a business owner, you get the luxury of making the final decision. This means everything is your responsibility.

If your employee screws up, it’s your responsibility. If a vendor fails to deliver, it’s your responsibility. If a computer breaks (never happens if you use a Mac 🙂 ), it’s your responsibility.

You hired the employee. You chose the vendor. You purchased the computer.

It was your decision (or choice not to decide). It’s your responsibility.

Make a decision. Today, take full responsibility for everything that does or does not happen in your business. It will be a better business for it.

You’ll enjoy it.

This doesn’t mean you have the license to worry. It means that you make a decision, choose to be responsible, and move on. Worry will kill the main benefit of the decision and responsibility cycle.

Freedom. It’s my word of the year. Freedom is what I have fought for, learning about, and moving toward for the last 9 months.

The ability to make a decision and to take responsibility is freeing. Your business, your photography, your life is you. Make a decision and take responsibility.

It may feel backwards, but it’s not. You aren’t tied to others, their poor choices or circumstance. You are free.

If you want a few more thoughts on Freedom and my word of the year project, take a look at these posts:

• Child-like. Expanse. Videos that represent these feelings.
• Open space
• July Update – Independence Day
• May Update – Danny MacAskill
• Ask. Believe. Receive.
• It’s the Journey.
• Open Space 2
• March Update – Driving out of the fog.
• Nike Inspiration
• Where it all began.