Accountability versus Entitlement

Yesterday in my Social Science class, my students discussed the concept of accountability versus entitlement and how society views this. Though there are evident generational differences, I started thinking about my own life and how taking accountability versus entitlement has enhanced my life, pushed me towards my goals and made me a better, stronger person. Whether one has been in ROTC, the military, or had military parents, the concept of duty and honor has been ingrained in some of us since the beginning. In other words, we have no choice but to be accountable for our lives, our actions, and each other.

Accountability and the drive to succeed has served me well and I seek others in my life who have done the same. However, I have little time for cowards, people who get others to do their dirty work, those who manipulate others so that they may succeed, and those who demand others to live life the way they deem fit, while oozing hypocrisy at the same time. That's not a true way of accomplishing a goal.

I also find that lack of accountability allows others to play the "blame game". The game of blaming others for their actions instead of owning up to the fact that they are to blame. What often follows this is a verbal or implied demand for an apology. Which even of an apology is granted, it is either done to shut the demander up or it simply is not given. Usually when it isn't given it is because the individual who the demand is made of, lives by the tenets of duty and honor and does not believe in apologizing for the sake of apologizing. He or she only apologizes when it is wholeheartedly meant.

I've recently been reminded of how accountability has been part of my life as long as I can remember: from my dad to the Army. And I directly credit that coupled with a drive to succeed for my ability to overcome various obstacles in life. In class, I have students write down their goals, hopes, and dreams in an effort to have them keep in the forefront what they are setting out to accomplish. This is much like having a tactical meeting before a mission or recon. This allows them to see, on paper what they hope to achieve and realistic goals along the way. During this exercise, I generally share what some goals off my are and were. First off I put on the SmartBoard what I have accomplished and then what I still have yet to accomplish.

Goals attained: BS in Exercise Physiology minors in business and nutrition with an emphasis in geriatric cardiac rehab, Masters in Health Sciences and Education, became a college professor, became a Mommy, lost 120 pounds, put my fibro in remission, Ran a 5k, checked off a majority of items off my bucket list, traveled, started my doctorate, raised my credit score and made progress on paying off my debt, started writing a book, had my research cited in a professional publication, have kept a 4.0 GPA through my masters and now my doctorate, started writing my dissertation, improved my health, became a board member/advocate on the board of a cause I wholeheartedly support, written curriculum for courses/programs, and about 50 others things.

However, I still have things to accomplish: finish my doctorate, pay off my debt completely, raise my daughter to be an empathetic, strong, intelligent woman, run a marathon, write for a professional publication, start my own educational consulting business, continue running, make more of an effort to transition to being a semi vegetarian, contribute more and advocate more extensively for human rights, especially in the area of Human trafficking, watch less TV (like I ever have time with school, work, and my commodity liaison business), and read more books that are NOT textbooks, and write a textbook.

So back to accountability... I am directly responsible for my successes and failures. I refuse to blame others for my inability to accomplish a goal. I merely go back, conduct an AAR, and determine what to do moving forward. With that I don't go out of my way to bad mouth or destroy the reputations of those who have reached goals I have try to attain; rather I seek them out and talk so that maybe I can learn something from their journey through life.

I'll be the first to admit when an idea or concept falls flat on its face, and willing to take the blame when my team fails to accomplish their goals. However I also have learned to recognize when something will require extra work, persistence, and drive to attain. I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on you. All of these things have served me well because even at work I am told how much people depend on and appreciate my reliability, thoroughness, and speed in accomplishing a task or goal set before me.

So what's the lesson in this? Stop the blame game or obsession with others' lived and accomplishments. Seek to take accountability for your own successes and failures. Then use that knowledge to set your own goals and future accomplishments. None of us are entitled to anything. We have to create our opportunities and move ahead: step by step and day by day. The hardest won accomplishment is the one that sticks with us and is what shapes our future plan of action. In other words: Carpe Diem....