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Are You Blameless?
No one succeeds with attitudes like these.
"I don't want to make the decisions."
"I don't want to make waves."
"I don't want to get in trouble!"
To succeed, you must be willing to stir things up!
Cause or Effect
You are either at Cause over things or you are at the Effect of things. For example, if a computer problem confuses you, you are at the Effect of the computer problem. As soon as you solve the problem, you are at Cause.
If you want to be wealthy, and your income is increasing, you are at Cause. If your income is stuck or decreasing, you are at Effect.
If you make steady progress toward your goals, you are at Cause. If you are stuck in a rut, you are at Effect.
If you could care less if someone blames you, you are at Cause. If you worry about being blamed, you are at Effect.
"You should not minimize* yourself as CAUSE. It is your greatest ability.
"Being blamed sometimes blunts** being CAUSE. But if one's total ambition is to be blameless, the best situation is to get one's name on a tombstone. And it's no fun being dead." -- L. Ron Hubbard (*Minimize = lessen, reduce. **Blunts = weaken, make less effective)
Who Blames You?
If someone blames you for a mistake or a problem, you might decide to be at Effect and try to hide. You want to keep out of trouble. You blunt yourself as Cause.
For example, a shoe sales clerk named Mary had an upset customer. He wanted a refund for a pair of shoes that did not fit, but the shoes had scuff marks on them. So despite store policy, she gave a refund to the customer. She decided it was the right thing to do.
When Mary's boss saw the shoes, he said, "You idiot! You know it's against store policy to pay refunds for worn shoes! I'm taking the refund out of your check."
Mary decides, "I'm never making a decision again!" She blunts herself. She stops being at Cause and becomes a clerk who never makes decisions.
The next day, another customer asks for a refund for his slightly-worn shoes. Mary says, "I'm sorry sir, but store policy won't allow me to give you a refund. See here? The bottoms of the shoes are scratched up."
The customer says, "But they don't fit! I can't wear them! Here, give them to the homeless." He starts to walk away.
Mary decides the store policy is wrong and she's not going to be Effect. She says, "Sir, wait. Never mind. I'm giving you a refund." She feels good. She is at Cause.
Mary then walks up to her boss and says, "I gave another refund. It's the right thing to do. Go ahead and take it out of my pay."
Her boss is flabbergasted! He says, "I will!" But then he thinks it over.
The next day the boss finds Mary and says, "You know, I thought it over and I think you're right. We should give refunds for shoes that don't fit. After all, we're supposed to help them find their correct sizes. I'll talk to the General Manager about changing this policy."
Recommendations
1. List the things you would do if you had no fear of blame.
2. Take the easiest item on the list and rise to Cause. Do it, say it, stand up and take the action!
3. Do the next easiest item on your list and so on.
Soon, you will find it's okay to take risks and, when necessary, accept the blame.
If you do not worry about being blamed, you do not blunt yourself. You are at Cause!
Copyright © 2006 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. Take better control of your life with the TipsForSuccess coaching website at www.TipsForSuccessCoaching.org. For permission to copy, print or post this article, go to www.tipsforsuccess.org/reprint_info.htm or click here. To subscribe, buy books, contact us or learn more about TipsForSuccess.org, click here. |
