The topic of ownership comes up in conversation quite often, especially in working environments. As I reflected on what it meant to me, this quirky idea came out of nowhere. I decided to write it as a very short story. You'll have to forgive me; my fiction writing skills aren't quite what they need to be to make this an epic story just yet.

Once upon a time, there was a captain who owned-a-ship. As the captain of his ship, it was his responsibility to command it to his chosen destination. He was the only one who knew his life's mission and goals. He had to be proactive; nobody could do it for him.

With that awareness, he understood that it was his responsibility to prepare, think and reflect to set out on his journey. Even with the best planning and coordination, however, it became clear that even doing his best would not be enough. He was proud to command his ship, take responsibility, take action, but essentially, he would need a crew to help him with the complexity of running a ship for his voyage.

He would need experts to man the different departments, such as the deck, engine, electrical, steward and more.

He went on to recruit the best workers from nearby villages that were willing to embark on this journey with him. In return for their support, he promised them the same he was asking for, helping them on their travels.

Surrounded by the best crew he could find, he was still the only one responsible for leading his expedition. Even with the most experienced crew, none of them would be able to tell him how to do that. He would need to figure that out for himself. He could depend on having the crew support him throughout his voyage, each of them offering their areas of expertise so that the captain could make the best possible decisions when trouble came up.

He embarked on this remarkable journey to eventually reach his destination, with changes of direction, stops and much learning along the way. He was also able to offer support to others to help them reach their own goals.  

Every ship can only have one captain, and we are each the captain of our own lives. Do you have a destination in mind? Do you treat your crew with respect? The journey to a destination can be just as important as reaching the destination itself.

The End!

Ownership has multiple facets. It's a mindset that guides our actions and behaviours. It's about taking charge of one's life and activities while recognizing that we can't do it alone. It's about choosing to show up in our work and personal life every day.

We are all responsible for our journey; nobody can command our ship other than ourselves.

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A few favourites this week

Soul: If you haven't yet seen this movie and happen to have a Disney+ subscription, I would highly recommend it. This Disney Pixar movie, not unlike many other Pixar movies, really pulls on the heartstrings as Amanda, my significant other, often says. It delivers a profound message that living isn't necessarily about having a purpose but finding a spark and living life in the now, not waiting for a special event for it to start.

Bunkie Life Contest: In case you don't already know, I love the idea of having a Bunkie for a home office. Bunkie Life is running a contest right now for a chance to win one. I'm participating and if that's something that interests you, feel free to register as well. Full transparency, the link is a referral link, which means if you register for the contest, I get more chances of winning. 😀 The contest closes February 7th, 2021, at 5 PM EST.

Quote of the week

Freedom begins the moment you realize someone else has been writing your story and it's time you took the pen from his hand and started writing it yourself.

By Bill Moyers

Miguel,
Sparknotion – Think Differently.