By Dr. Laura Palmer Noone
CEO of University of the Potomac
When my children were little, and a toy would be discovered broken, I would ask what happened. Invariably the answer was something to the effect “it got broke.” When I would probe as to how it got broke, the story got a bit fuzzy and there was generally no one to blame.
Today, my children are older and a bit more rational, so I generally can get to the bottom of the story and usually there is some accountability for misconduct. My mantra has always been if I make the mess (literally or figuratively) I will be responsible for cleaning it up. If you make the mess, then I may volunteer to help you but I am not required to do so and you are not entitled to my help. Further, you are not allowed to complain about me as I help you nor are you allowed to complain that I won’t help because, after all, you made the mess.
My question to you, dear readers, is where is that accountability generally in society today? I deal with very irrational and demanding members of the public nearly every day – that isn’t really all that uncommon. But what does rile me is those individuals that take advantage of the system, act badly and then refuse to accept responsibility for their own bad conduct.
Far too often the answer for those who feel they have been wronged is to fail to accept their own responsibility in the matter and blame it on everyone else. We would all be better off if we would each take a deep breath and say, do I have any part in this proverbial mess? If you don’t have even a scintilla of responsibility, then that is great. But if you do have any part in causing the situation, grab a mop – it is time to clean up your mess.
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