CHAMPIONSHIP: Entitlement vs. Ownership

This is a huge event. One for the Ages! Before I go on a rant, what team are you on? Team Entitlement or Team Ownership?

Only you can answer that, but let’s take a close look at both.

In business today, and it doesn’t matter at what level, I believe entitlement is winning. Entitlement, defined, is “the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment." The key word is “one." This means you and only YOU. Only you matter. Your benefits, your vacation days, your space, your lunch break, your workload. 

What gets lost in YOU is the customer, the company, your teammates.

Ownership naturally, by definition, is "the state or fact of owning something." Owning is more about those around you. Being an owner means being responsible for everything around you—including other people. It's not just about you. 

Today, entitlement is crushing ownership because of the way people think and their attitudes, but also because the business world has shifted to a more self-driven, get-mine mindset. And people are making money off of it - big money. This will hurt us in the long run. We have gotten away from people that want to serve a company for their entire career, to be a company person from beginning of career to retirement; "homegrown," as they say. 

That was great years ago, but I am by no means saying that’s what we should be all about again. What I am presenting is this: in your current position, do you behave like an owner? I don’t care if you work there for a month, two years, or 10 years. When you go to work, do you, think, act, speak, greet, and perform like you OWN the business? Maybe it’s time you do.

Try it. See if anything changes around you...