On Taking Responsibility
Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash

On Taking Responsibility

I've come across entrepreneurs start off as early as 12 years old. However there was a study done that ranked entrepreneurs, their level of success and their age and found out that the average age of successful entrepreneurs was 42, not 27.

In my opinion, a big factor that contributes towards the success of an entrepreneur early on is their maturity - and that isn't related to age. The first sign of maturity, is taking responsibility.


It's not rare to have a slightly larger meeting and a few people show up late. If you haven't noticed yet, make a note of how many people first of all apologize for being late, and secondly own up for the reason as to why they were late. If you are lucky enough to see the first in action, in 99% of the case, there is always some other reason that made them late - it is never them.

And you don't have to look elsewhere. How do we handle that same situation?

That is taking responsibility for our actions.


When I was in University, each semester you'd have to go register for classes for your next semester. There were some students who were quite pro-active. They'd sit through classes for the semester but also check out a few professors whose classes they want to take next semester was a way to prepare. And when they find someone whose style of teaching they really liked, they'd go ahead and register for the classes - one semester ahead. And then there were students who would realize that they havent registered for a class which is a requisite for three other courses in the next semester and because of that, they are going to have to do an entire additional semester now. And they'd rush to the registrar's office and do the thing that most folks normally do.

The registrar had this big signage behind her, that she'd point to.

It used to say "a lack of planning on your part, does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part". And that was all there was to be said.

I think we mistake being helpful, for trying to offset our ability to take responsibility for ourselves - and the first reaction when I saw that signage was "she is mean". But honestly, that was perhaps the most valuable lesson there was to be learnt. If you want to be the captain of your ship, then you need to take responsibility and not pass the onus on someone else - demanding that they bend over to accomodate your lack of planning.


This realization naturally occurs to folks when they turn around 40. And they realize that they aren't just responsible for themselves, but they are also responsible for the many souls and the families of those souls by running an org.

Any young entrepreneur who realizes this, and internalizes it to show in their actions will stand out. My guess would be, they would be in the top of their game, way ahead of 42.

Arunkumar Ravichandran

SPINNY | CAMPUZONE | INDIA FARM | RAPIDO | IIT KGP

2 年

Interesting article sir, Will said. In my opinion, I also feel planning should be done in such a way that we also get our favorite professor's class and other courses at the right time. We cannot wait for the rain to start the cultivation process, preparing ourselves is necessary. Thanks

回复
ANKIT GAUTAM

Data Entry Assistant at RMSC

2 年

Suprb

回复
Narayani Gurunathan

Helping businesses hire top talent | Recruitment Specialist with ~20 years of experience | Career coach (5000+ people placed)

2 年

Didn't want to just like, so a comment also. An unbiased piece of writing.. Wow. :)

Bhaskar Vasudev

Independent Consultant at Independent Consultant

2 年

Being responsible is the first step in Professional life..

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Vijay Anand的更多文章

  • Wrong Customers, can kill you.

    Wrong Customers, can kill you.

    There are countless articles out there that will talk about how to get your first 100 customers. Somehow there is this…

    8 条评论
  • The Startup Test : Huge, If true

    The Startup Test : Huge, If true

    There is an youtube channel with the name, that is hosted by the amazing Cleo Abram. When I first came across that…

    2 条评论
  • Becoming a company's irreplaceable asset - Must read

    Becoming a company's irreplaceable asset - Must read

    In the knowledge economy, whether it is 10 hours or 90 hours a week that you put in isnt what counts. It is the outcome…

    13 条评论
  • Know the game you are playing - 4 types of systems that define the rules and outcomes.

    Know the game you are playing - 4 types of systems that define the rules and outcomes.

    If one were to pause, observe and deeply think about it, there are multiple systems at play in the universe. And just…

    5 条评论
  • Do You have a great idea. BUT You've done nothing about it (so far).

    Do You have a great idea. BUT You've done nothing about it (so far).

    Do you have an idea / Project that you've been sitting on cause you are not motivated enough to do something about it?…

    2 条评论
  • What makes a founder unique?

    What makes a founder unique?

    I was thinking about what makes a founder different. Perhaps the most distinct trait that stands out in founders is the…

    5 条评论
  • Your fundraising deck will circulate: How to strategize.

    Your fundraising deck will circulate: How to strategize.

    If you are putting together a fundraiser deck, and you are emailing it, you can be sure it will circulate. Working with…

    4 条评论
  • Building Startup teams

    Building Startup teams

    Building a startup is such a uncharted journey that a tribe of like-minded entrepreneurs sharing what works for them…

    3 条评论
  • One trait that every successful entrepreneur has.

    One trait that every successful entrepreneur has.

    When I lived in Canada, there was this retired lawyer named James Lyon. I was introduced to him as part of the…

    25 条评论
  • What should your startup fundraise strategy be?

    What should your startup fundraise strategy be?

    The (at least five) different strategies for fundraise. Context: a startup in a great position to fundraise has these…

    3 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了