Own the Mess: Why Taking Responsibility Unlocks Business Growth

Earlier today, I spoke with a client who was frustrated. They had done all the “right” things:

✅ Grew their revenue
✅ Hired the right people
✅ Put systems in place

And yet, problems still slipped through the cracks.

They told me, “Ryan, I hired someone for this role full-time, and in five minutes I found a problem they missed. How is that possible?”

I get it—it’s frustrating. But here’s the uncomfortable truth I had to share:

👉 You hired that person.
👉 You trained that person.

So the mess? It’s on you.

Here’s the good news: when you take ownership, you also take back the power to fix it.

Control the Controllables

My first sales trainer always said: “Control the controllables.”
You can’t control the economy.
You can’t control the weather.
You can’t control what other people think.

But you can control how you lead, how you train, and how you set expectations.

When you stop blaming others and own the mess, it’s liberating. You suddenly have the ability to clean it up.

Business is Just Solving Problems

The truth about business is simple: it’s problem-solving. The most successful leaders solve problems faster—and often bigger ones—than everyone else.

If your office manager isn’t performing? Train them better.
If they still don’t improve? Replace them.
There’s always a solution when you take ownership.

And here’s the best part: small hinges swing big doors. Fixing the little cracks you notice today could be the very thing that unlocks the next level of growth in your business.

Your Challenge This Week

➡️ Audit your business.
➡️ Spot the cracks.
➡️ Take ownership of the mess.

Because once you own it, you can fix it. And when you do—that’s when the breakthroughs happen.

Keep moving forward!
— Ryan Lee

# business growth, leadership, accountability, problem-solving, business ownership, leadership mindset, team performance, entrepreneurship tips, taking responsibility #