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The Fax of Life is presented each week by the Encouraging Word. You can obtain a complete volume of the Fax of Life by calling (714) 587-9534.
THE FAX OF LIFE
A Weekly Service To The Business Community From SVCC
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR WORK
By Rick Warren
In working with others, you'll meet three kinds of people: Accusers, Excusers, and Choosers.
ACCUSERS: love to blame others for everything. They are self-proclaimed victims. All their problems are caused by others. Their favorite phase is "It's all your fault!" These people are pros at passing the buck. They are experts at dodging responsibility.
Unfortunately, our society is moving away from the idea of personal responsibility. In courtrooms, criminals are now made to look like victims. Kids blame parents, management blames labor (and vice-versa), teachers blame administration, and everybody blames the government! Who are you blaming for your unhappiness? You spell "blame" "b- lame." Whenever you are blaming someone else, you are "being lame."
EXCUSERS: don't blame others but they have an excuse for everything. They can justify any mistake, every failure, and any lack of responsibility. Their favorite phrase is "Well, I guess that's just the way I am!"
If you're looking for an excuse, you can always find a philosopher to back you up. Darwin said "You are the victim of your creation" (blame evolution). Marx said, "You are the victim of your circumstances" (blame economics). Freud said, "You are the victim of your conditioning" (blame environment). If none of these excuses fit you, there are plenty you can make up.
Ben Franklin said "People who are good at making excuses are seldom good at anything else." And George Washington Carver said "99% of all failures come from people who've perfected the habit of making excuses." The truth is - the more you shrink from respo nsibility, the smaller the person you become.
CHOOSERS: are the winners in life. They accept responsibility for both the successes and their failures. They know they can't control everything that happens but they can and do control their responses to life.
The greatest freedom God gave you is the power to choose. The Bible tells us "Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the king's grandson, but chose to share ill-treatment with God's people....Heb. 11:24-25 . Your willingness to accept responsibility is the evidence of maturity.
At birth, God gives you a set of cards - uncontrollable factors like your genes, parents, background etc. How you play those cards is your choice. Accusers and Excusers are ultimately losers. Take charge of your work this week!
Until next week...
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