Ownership

Georgeous day in Atlanta. Sunshine, blue skies, 73 degrees. Braves beat the Dodgers 4-1 in nine innings.

Ownership often leads us to think of cars and homes. How about an expanded definition that included work, time, life, relationships? As a side note, a home with a mortgage is not owned by the tenant, but by the mortgage company. Missing four payments in a row will clarify this detail for those that may have questions.

One approach to life is the idea of leasing or renting. Most people lease their homes from the mortgage company. Most cars on the road are leased, not owned. When was the last time you saw an auto ad that mentioned the purchase price?

95% of working Americans lease their work lives to the highest bidder, in return for a check every couple of weeks, health benefits, a 401k, and perhaps a few weeks off every year. Life tends to revolve around the weekend, as this is the time to recharge. Makes me think of the move "The Matrix".

Many also choose to lease their relationships, such that when the new wears off they simply trade for a new or different model.

Ownership is different, and starts with thinking differently. From a business perspective, those who own are focused on creating cash flow based on physical, technical, and human resources, and the development of replicatable systems.

Those who own their cars and homes understand the value and flexibility of having no debt, and the benefit of a long term holding period.

Those who own their lives have matured to the point that they are prepared to embrace the unpopular "R" word, responsibility. This maturity causes them to make long term commitments to others, with an emphasis on serving others well.

This maturity also gives them the freedom to walk off the plantation, and tell the masters in DC that they prefer to take full responsibility for their own financial future. An ownership mentality embraces the fact that life is full of risk, and that man has been given by his Creator incredible creative genius. This creativity, exercised with focus, and with the purpose of mutual benefit, can create a life and future that no government subsidy, regardless of intent, can come close to duplicating.

My special thanks to Melissa Libby (www.melissalibbypr.com) for encouraging me to pursue this blog. And, a standing ovation to friends Kevin Murray and Rob Coatsworth, of CTR Partners (www.ctrpartners.com), for being nominated as Gwinnett Chamber Business of the Year.

More later...