Hopefully we can all agree that ownership matters to the success or failure of an endeavor. But I think we still undervalue the importance of ownership.
You may have heard the old maxim, “Leadership casts a long shadow.” Indeed it does. Anyone who has worked under wise and responsible leadership knows how it can permeate an organization with healthy values. Alternatively, anyone who has worked under foolish and irresponsible leadership knows how corrupting it can become.
So yes, leadership casts a long shadow. But ownership might cast an even longer one. Certainly this is true in business — who owns the organizational vision makes a huge difference. An obvious example is our local NBA team, the Golden State Warriors. Saddled with inept ownership for decades, the team floundered with bad draft picks, bad trades, and bad win/loss records. Then new ownership stepped onto the scene and turned it around. Within a few years they had the preeminent team of their era.
Ownership matters in small business too. Small business owners are among the most dedicated and hard working people I know. When I visit my office on a weekend, a holiday, or late hours, invariably I run into neighboring business owners who are also putting in the extra time. Obviously dedicated employees often do the same, but at the end of the day it is usually the owner who is locking up. And then returning first thing in the morning to open up.
Or think about our personal life. Successful people take ownership of their own lives and for doing things well. They take ownership of their mistakes, striving to both reconcile and improve. This is true as a spouse, parent, friend, and neighbor.
Ownership matters in the nonprofits we operate and the community groups we join. It matters in the art we create, the health decisions we make, and the culture we foster.
Perhaps most importantly, ownership matters in the love and respect we show others. If we own the responsibility to care for others, everything else — our business endeavors, our neighborhood, our internal moral compass — will thrive.
Ownership matters. It’s something to keep in mind the next time you consider where to invest your time, treasure and talent.