Actively Avoiding Responsibility

While recounting workplace horror stories with my business partner, I mentioned that one of the keys to my sanity at work over the years has been actively avoiding responsibility. I was reasonably good at saying “no.”

In reality, I wasn’t avoiding responsibility as much as I was being selective about where I was channeling my energy.

This required some restraint and often meant accepting a lower status (and lower pay) at work to be closer to the things I cared about.

Of course, you don’t help anyone or make any personal progress by avoiding responsibility. At some point, you have to lean in and take a swing. At some point, you have to say yes.

It's not a science. I haven’t found a golden yes to no ratio, nor have I ever found a job that perfectly aligns with all my gifts and desires with no strings attached (I think that might be a hobby).

I did, however, approach my work with intentionality. I wanted to make a career out of coffee and to do that I knew I needed to act like a professional. Professionals are intentional with their career paths. They’re not perfect but on average they know when to say no, and perhaps more importantly, they aren’t afraid to say yes.