Being Accountable

Yesterday I had a conversation with Gary. He’s like an older brother and we’ve known each other for more than thirty years. I started the call saying something along the lines of, “Remind my DUMB behind how much I don’t like working for someone else. Also, remind me that if I can do it for another company, I can do it for my own.” I was quite emphatic and he did what we typically do which is laugh. I repeated myself and we got a bit more in depth.

Having known me for so long, Gary knows my history. He’s seen my capacity to excel and to fail. He’s witnessed those things first hand on multiple occasions. He’s witnessed my transformation as I’ve bounced from industry to industry, job to job, thriving in multiple careers.All the while, he’s been doing one thing - his job. He held two jobs for more than twenty years and kept his primary for over thirty. In the same span, I’ve had so many jobs it’s hard to recount them all.

Another word for accountable is obliged or answerable. I have to put myself in debt to others. I owe my success, in part, to others. I haven’t yielded because of their assistance. I’ve towed the line and held this course for years longer than any other profession. In part because I’ve been answerable to others. Those within my circle who know and love me and what I’m doing. Those within my circle that’ll ask the difficult questions and make me answerable. Those within my circle that I respect and love enough to tell the embarrassing truth, admit my failings, and ask for assistance in moving forward with corrective measures. Most of us have people like that in our lives, but I’m sure we don’t utilize them to their fullest capacity.

Today, Wednesday, November 16, 2022, I am grateful that:

I get to work. There have been times when I searched for work and wasn’t able to find it. Now that I have more work than I’m able to complete, it’s slightly overwhelming, but also a point of gratitude.

Sherman and I got a chance to catch up this morning. Our conversations are usually enriching for me, and I hope they are for him as well.

I was able to get some work done yesterday. It’ll be slow progress to dig myself out of the hole I’m in, but I’m willing to walk the path, follow the plan, and make things better.

Who are you accountable to?

How are you obligated to them?

How often to you speak with them?

Be Great. Be Grateful!!!+