Uncommon Accountability

3THE ACCOUNTABLE MINDSET

Accountability is the fundamental driving force for sustained success in life. While a victim mindset can trap us in the mire of dissapointment, regrets, and resentment, an accountable one can set us free to achieve our biggest aspirations and live a life of meaning and fulfillment. This chapter on the mindset of accountability is the antithesis of Chapter 2.

In the last chapter, we listed some of the payoffs and prices arising from what we defined as a victim mindset. Overall, we argued that there is a significant negative impact on lifetime results when this mindset is nurtured and embraced. Why, then, do so many people seem to choose to embrace their internal victim?

We suggest that there are two primary reasons. The first is that being accountable also comes with some significant costs. The costs of accountability can include:

• The need to change personally. Discomfort arises from the work needed to grow personally, and to improve results.
• Loss of self‐image preservation. We must let go of ego‐preserving blame of other people and/or external events for our shortfalls.
• The honest examination and confrontation of our own agency in our current situation. This can be an immediate blow to our ego, challenge our worldview, and negatively affect our self‐efficacy in the short‐term.
• The increased risks associated with acknowledging our personal culpability ...