by: Stephanie Gonzalez, CEO & Managing Partner photo by: Stephanie Ringleb Photography Transient is a word that should never be associated with the theory or practice of ownership. If ownership is an act, state, or right of possessing something, a transient mindset negates the very definition of ownership over an outcome. If you hold the responsibility of an outcome then you own the successful completion of that event. That event could be big or small in size and infinite or finite in time; but ownership of it would require being accountable to its beginning and end. I have specific examples – personal and professional – that best draw a parallel to this. On the personal front, have you been blessed with a child? If so, this is one of the best examples to pull from. The first year of that newborn’s life is critical. As a parent, you wholly, completely, and literally own the life of that child. Newborns are ill equipped to manage the various life-sustaining activities on their own. You own their survival and as such, you can’t move your attention away from the tasks that need to be accomplished to keep them alive. They rely on you – your time, your attention and your assistance – to keep them filled with breath, life, and the possibility of another day. On the professional front, have you chosen to build a team? Have you raised your hand to be a project manager? Have you been selected to organize an event? Regardless of how that team, project, or event came into existence it too demands your attention to stay alive. As a leader and manager of people, processes, or projects, “they” look to you for a plan, guidance, and direction. An ownership-based mindset plants seeds of responsibility, accountability, and mastery; which in turn spawn accolades, awards, and opportunities for a more abundant career. Wearing any of these professional hats as a transient owner is where break-downs happen; carelessness, accidents, mistakes and blame arise. Owners are eager to seek, take and create responsibility for themselves. And, as they grow and evolve they learn to successfully mentor others and delegate to make sure their original intention is met. As a parent, you can (and should) take a night off and delegate your duty to a babysitter. A responsible parent would never take the night off leaving their baby at home with zero plan for care and supervision. A parent who owns the life of their child takes the necessary action steps to ensure their survival. At home or at work, there is a fine line between delegating responsibility and abdicating responsibility. Being an owner does not mean you have to DO everything, but it does mean you know it gets done. Transient owners: Stay excited about ideas, not objectives Lack a strategic game plan Miss opportunities to identify key action steps Forget to close the loop and finish what they started Assume results are someone else’s responsibility Wait for others to create momentum Look to others for motivation Deflect (don’t reflect on) personal responsibility Parent, team leader, project manager, event organizer…whatever label you want to place on what you have chosen to own in your personal or professional life – it demands YOU.