Owning Your Journey

10 Commandments of Personal Responsibility in Success

Carlos Barredo Lago
3 min readSep 13, 2023

The path to professional success is neither linear nor pre-defined. It’s a blend of external influences and personal choices. As you navigate this journey, remember that while you can’t control every event, you can control your reactions, decisions, and actions. Here’s a distilled guide on owning your professional ascent through personal responsibility.

1. Understand Your Role in Your Current Reality

Every situation you’re in is a culmination of choices made. While outside factors play a role, your decisions have a more significant influence. Embrace your past choices, learn from them, and use them as stepping stones.

2. Mastery Over Reaction

It’s natural to face obstacles. However, success is not defined by the challenges but by how you handle them. Cultivate resilience and adaptability to steer through adversities effectively.

3. Avoid the Blame Game

While it’s tempting to pinpoint external reasons for setbacks, growth lies in introspection. Seek out the lessons, not the culprits.

4. Be a Solution Magnet

Challenges are merely puzzles waiting to be solved. Adopt a solution-centric mindset. When confronted with an issue, flip the narrative from “Why is this happening?” to “How can I overcome this?”

5. Nurture a Growth Circle

Your network significantly influences your perspective and growth trajectory. Cultivate relationships with those who inspire, challenge, and elevate you.

6. Ground Yourself in Reality, But Reach for the Stars

Recognize and acknowledge your starting point, but never lose sight of your dreams. Balance pragmatism with ambition.

7. Consistency Over Intensity

While bursts of effort can yield results, it’s the steady, persistent actions that build empires. Dedicate yourself to your goals, irrespective of the highs and lows.

8. The Present is Your Powerhouse

Your future is sculpted by today’s actions. Maintain a strategic vision, but pour your energy and focus into what you can do right now.

9. Dive Deep into Tasks

In an age of endless notifications and distractions, the ability to focus on a single task, dive deep, and produce high-quality work is invaluable. Prioritize depth over breadth.

10. Holistic Well-being is Non-Negotiable

Professional success is intricately linked with personal well-being. To ensure a balanced approach to life:

  • Daily Exercise: Boosts mental clarity and energy.
  • Nature: Reconnect through walks or moments of tranquility, rejuvenating the spirit.
  • Active Reading: Books provide invaluable wisdom and broaden horizons.
  • Limit Social Media: Detox periodically to retain focus and clarity.
  • Cultivate Habits: Emphasize patience and long-term commitment, steering clear of fleeting gratifications.

Conclusion

In essence, your professional trajectory is a reflection of your internal compass, guiding you through choices and actions. By understanding and embracing personal responsibility, you not only chart a path to success but also ensure the journey is as rewarding as the destination.

Among these tenets, perhaps the most foundational are the 1st, “Understand Your Role in Your Current Reality” and the 7th, “Consistency Over Intensity.” Both serve as cornerstones for any change or improvement. Recognizing one’s role in their current situation lays the groundwork for actionable growth, while maintaining consistent effort ensures that growth is sustainable and impactful over time.

Armed with these principles, you stand poised to navigate the intricacies of the professional world, with personal responsibility as your guiding light.

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Carlos Barredo Lago
Carlos Barredo Lago

Written by Carlos Barredo Lago

Quant researcher & developer | Data scientist | Engineer

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