UlTImATE SUccESS GUIdEThe study of personal responsibility is an investment into success. The
more we are personally responsible the greater the success, and the
greater the happiness. Knowing the common roadblocks and having a
plan to develop the habits of personal responsibility will lead to greater
success than any other change an individual can make in how they ap-
proach life.
the FIve RoADBloCks to PeRsonAl ResPonsIBIlItYThere are five primary roadblocks to personal responsibility. These are
the things that stand in our way of being personally responsible. Each of
us will experience these obstacles at different levels, with some being
more of an issue than others. Identifying the mechanisms by which we are
not responsible is the first step toward assuming personal responsibility.
ReACtIng InsteAD oF ResPonDIngReacting instead of responding is an indication that we have failed to
listen. Reacting removes our ability to choose our responses; reacting
is automatic, generally based on emotion rather than reason. Emotional
reaction can only occur when we have failed to fully consider what
has been said to us; we have not considered the other person’s state-
ments from their perspective. Responding, on the other hand, is making
a choice. In taking the seconds or moments to evaluate what we have
heard we can select a reasoned response, one not based in fear or emo-
tion. Even when we choose the same response as we would have chosen
had we reacted there is an improvement. A response is based in convic-
tion, and lacks the unreasoned emotion of a reaction. To be personally
responsible we are responsible for always doing and being our best. Re-
sponding instead of reacting improves our communication, the quality
of what we say, and helps us to be our more responsible best.
exPeCtAtIonsExpectations can be a major roadblock. We are not responsible for other
people’s expectations, yet frequently we expend much energy trying to
meet them. Being personally responsible is effectively a contractual re-
lationship. For work, the contract establishes that I do a fair day’s work
for a fair day’s pay. In relationships, the contract establishes that I be
open and honest. My responsibility for other people’s expectations is
limited to the extent that I created those expectations. If I said I was go-