When You Own It, You Don't Make Excuses

The Growth Insight 🌱

When You Own It, You Don't Make Excuses

Ever notice how the most successful people never seem to have an excuse ready? There's a reason for that.

I watched my friend launch a business last year. When sales were slow, he didn't blame the economy.

When his website crashed, he didn't point fingers at the developer. Instead, he said something that stuck with me: "This is my company.

Every problem is ultimately my problem to solve." That's ownership. The truth is, we all face the same choice every day.

When something goes wrong, we can either take responsibility or find someone or something else to blame.

Think about the last time you missed a deadline. Did you immediately list all the reasons why it wasn't your fault?

Or did you simply say, "I missed this. Here's how I'll fix it"? The difference seems small, but it changes everything.

When you make excuses, you give away your power. You're essentially saying, "I couldn't control this outcome." But when you take ownership, you claim your power back. You're saying, "I influence what happens next."

I noticed this in my own life when I started tracking my fitness progress. For months, I blamed my schedule for missed workouts. "I'm too busy" became my automatic response.

But nothing changed until the day I admitted: "I'm choosing not to prioritize this."

That simple shift—from excuse to ownership—changed my entire approach. Ownership isn't about blame. It's about control.

When you own a situation—even one you didn't create—you give yourself the authority to change it.

The hardest part?

Ownership feels uncomfortable at first. It means acknowledging imperfection. It means saying "I was wrong" or "I could have done better."

But that temporary discomfort leads to permanent growth.

So next time something goes wrong, notice your first reaction.

Do you reach for an excuse? Or do you reach for control?

Remember: Those who own their mistakes end up owning their success.