Ivory Tower Idiot Says Personal Responsibility is NOT the Answer

There are times when people say things that are so far off base – so ill-timed, untrue, un-informed or just plain assinine – that when you hear them, you shake your head like the duck in the ALFAC commercials and say, "Whaaaa?"

Let's see – John Kerry – pretty much every time he opens his mouth; comedian Artie Lange, anytime someone is brave enough to have him as a guest on a show.  Glenn Beck, Chelsea Handler, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Michael Moore, Donald Rumsfeld, Kim Jong Il…the list is endless.

For many of these people, they have an excuse.  They are entertainers or politicians, which means they are both experts at entertaining, lying or making pretend for a living.

That is why when I read a direct quote from an expert – someone who holds a Phd and founded and institute about bullying – say that when it comes to workplace bullying, it is the employer's responsibility to deal with workplace bullying and "enough with the personal responsibility mantra"…

What?  Enough with the personal responsibility mantra?

When it comes to bullying – of ANY sort, regardless if it is bullies on the playground, cyberbullying or being bullied as an adult – it is ALL about personal responsibility.

I look at it this way:  you break down the word responsibility to response-ability;  your ability to respond to situations, people, places and things.

By taking response-ability for every single aspect of your life – how you respond to dealing with finances, your career, your children, your spouse, your relationships – you take control.

The more response-ability you demonstrate, the more control.  The more control, the more response-ability.

This is AMERICA – everything comes down to personal responsibility.

There is a situation I'm familiar with right now where the CEO of a company is basically running amok, back-dooring people in business deals, sowing seeds of dissention, trying to pit people against each other, lying – you name it.

The kicker?  Everyone involved in the business saw it, knew it and let it go on – as long as there was money to be made.

But what happened?  Like any other bully, this guy has gotten out of control – so much so that it has thrown the future of the business and many, many careers up in the air…

All because of the way people choose to respond.

In this situation, you could say it is all the CEO's fault – and you'd be right, if you were looking to blame, kick, scream, whine and complain.

Or, you could look at the situation like myself and others are.

The first thing I said was, "Oops – you dummy; you saw this coming years ago and did nothing about it – nice job, moron."

After I got done with that, I said to myself, "Self, what do I have to do to get the outcome I want?  Who do I want to work with?  What will I or won't I stand for/tolerate/be around?"

I kept asking myself the questions until I was crystal-clear on what I wanted – and then I made my move.

No worrying.  No "waiting around" to see what so-and-so was going to do.  No second guessing.  Get moving already.

The result?  I have never been happier or felt more energized going forward.  I executed what we called in the Marines "Command and Control" over my mission and my life.

That is response-ability.  Taking personal responsibility and taking the power back from someone who was trying to take it away.

As well-meaning as the Phd I mentioned is, as much as he has conducted study after study, as much as he has interviewed and been interviewed as an expert, I can say – without a shadow of a doubt after working with thousands and thousands of people who have dealt with bullying – that it is ALL about personal response-ability.

Take your power back.  Do NOT let any person, place or event on Earth take your power away.

Be response-able.

Take back your power,

Sensei Harrison Huff

P.S. – The school year is coming up – make sure that you and your child are prepared and are Bully Proof.  Go to BullyProofKids.com and get the course" Bully Proof Kids" today.