Make a Difference: Influence Through Accountability

James and everyone else on the team, felt good about his being named the starting quarterback for the season. It was James’s senior year and he had just come off a winning season during his junior year in which he and his team had performed beyond anyone’s expectations. In addition, his great attitude and “team mentality” had been the glue that held the team together last season during some difficult days. James thought nothing of sacrificing for the team and often deflected the praise of the fans onto his teammates with whom he credited his ability to make the plays he had made. His teammates felt his appreciation and support for them and would have fought for him to the end. The team’s Cinderella season, the year before, had drawn the attention of the media, sports writers, and even some pro scouts. This year would be just as great or maybe even greater. Surely, nothing could go wrong. But after the first few wins of the next season, James’s senior year, just as it appeared the team was headed to a possible championship, it all began to fall apart. There was an unexplainable change in James. It seemed all the good press and praises of his talents and ability were going to his head. James, who was normally a humble guy, now appeared to have a serious “attitude” problem. Instead of leading his team, he was now demanding they perform as he thought best. He was critical and distant. He acted and spoke as if he were carrying the team. He blamed everyone else for every mistake on the field and now deflected the criticism onto his team instead of the praise as he had done before. He even refused to throw to some receivers at times, and would keep the ball and run it himself—even when he knew that was not the play the coach had called. He even made the comment that he did not have to “explain himself” to the other players. The glue was disintegrating. The team was starting to come apart. It didn’t make sense. The same talented players were still playing every game. No significant injuries. No surprises from the other teams. Nevertheless, when James and his team took the field they seemed disconnected. It was going to be a long season. Becoming a leader who can be respected both on and off the field of competition will pay dividends in one’s future professional and personal pursuits. However, this is not a journey that can be taken lightly, but requires a commitment to understanding responsibility and answerability for one’s life and actions. We are all accountable to someone, but it is how we respond to that accountability that sets us apart as either a leader or a follower. I realize the idea of leadership may not appeal to, or be the goal of all who read this book; but make no mistake about it, everyone will lead someone in his or her life. As you read this book you will be challenged to understand and accept accountability for yourself and your actions on a new level. Nevertheless, this is not merely an attempt to encourage responsible behavior or to lecture the reader on moral or ethical behavior. It is about personal growth and achieving one’s ultimate potential regardless of one’s aspirations in life. The need to be accountable is pervasive in all areas of our lives. We are challenged to be accountable to people in our lives, obligations we have made, dreams and goals we have set, challenges we have accepted, and the standards we have set for ourselves. Without accountability in our world everyone would simply do whatever was right in his or her own eyes without regard to the opinions of others. But as anyone who has lived any length of time and had varied life experiences will tell you, everyone doing what is best in his or her own eyes only works in theory. It sounds good on the surface. It has such an independent sound to it. The problem is that we do not live independently of others—we are connected—and we cannot always depend on the judgment of others when left to their own desires. I do not say this to encourage a cynical outlook on life, but rather to remind you of human limitations and our need for each other. We are creatures that thrive when there is a sense of community or team spirit. We need our friends and family. We are at our best when working as a team or when in healthy relationships with others. Some call it camaraderie, friendship, or alliance. Whatever you call it, we need it, and accountability makes it happen. The lack of accountability destroys it. My challenge to you is that you will embrace accountability in your life as a good thing and as a trait you will use to set yourself apart from the crowd.