[August 21, 2020] In 1983, I moved my family to a small duplex in State College, Pennsylvania. We were to live on Beaver Street, about a mile from Pennsylvania State University, for the next six years. Next door was a gentleman named Mr. Jed Neidigh, who had been a doughboy during World War I. His advice to me was that whatever happened, take responsibility.
His wife, of similar age, lived with him. He told me stories of The Great War and how his unit had been unprepared for the rigors of combat and the horrors that were often daily affairs. Many of the officers in his unit were quick to blame the foot soldiers for problems in combat. They had refused to take responsibility and thus were hated by those same doughboys.
I like to compare taking responsibility that all leaders should take to that of the hero soldier. It seems that we seem to spontaneously admire heroes who have proven themselves in competition. We are enamored with them because those soldiers have played out the drama of obtaining an important mission (defeating the enemy).
We like to heroes who are disciplined and in great physical shape, that do remarkable things and stretch themselves beyond their previous exploits. We all want to see brilliant and brave action in the hero, but we also like to know that person trying desperately to win. They have disciplined themselves, continually getting better, but they are improving themselves in such a way that it also helps their military unit.
Such behavior is not just good for their immediate military unit but also good for the military in general and reflects well on the broader culture. The best soldier is one with a positive attitude, obeys the law of warfare in combat, and lift up other soldiers. They work for their own improvement in a way that simultaneously works for the improvement of the unit, for the military, and its spillover into the broader culture. This is all dramatized in the hero.
The soldier’s heroic bravery is acted out visually. We wish to mimic their behavior because if we can play well with others in our job, family, community, that means we are reasonably sophisticated and civilized as a person. It is essential to learn to interact well with others; that is the basics of ethical behavior.
It is the responsibility of the soldier, and the leader is to “get the ball in the net.” Then the goal of having “games” is to produce people who can take proper responsibility no matter where they are. Taking on responsibility reasonably is so that you can have sustainable meaning in your life, where you will never fall prey to all the catastrophes, pains, and suffering that life throws at us.
What responsibilities should you take? Mr. Neidigh took responsibility for his unit. He was, to me at least, a real hero. I will forever treasure his memory.
Thanks Gen. Satterfield, enjoyed this article and the one of paperwork from today (Saturday). Keep pushing us to “think.” Great job.
It is carrying out your responsibilities that make you who you are and will lead to satisfaction in life.
Wow, Gen. Satterfield. Great story.
THe story of your neighbor, the old man and his wife, is such a great treasure. Thanks.
Gen. Satterfield, we often don’t know how honored we are whenever we get the chance to speak with someone who has done something so great in their lives, lived to tell about the battlefield, and then come home to have a full family and life. Thank you for sharing it.
But without taking responsibility, you’re all the more likely to look at your career as a failure because you allowed any passing wind to blow you around, all the while blaming the wind for how things turned out. When you fail to responsibly guide your direction and outcomes, you set the stage for creating a miserable life—a life that fulfills none of your dreams and aspirations.
Excuses for failure, excuses about your choices in life, excuses about what you feel you have accomplished—and what you have not—fuel dysfunctional thinking and consequently, undesirable actions and behaviors.
Yes, I agree, and the solution begins at home and then moves to the schools. That, frankly, is hard to do but why not start now!
I agree, start now. Fight back against the socialist fad to do away with responsibility.
Best quote of the article … “Taking on responsibility reasonably is so that you can have sustainable meaning in your life, where you will never fall prey to all the catastrophes, pains, and suffering that life throws at us.” Maybe we should be teaching our kids this! Never before in the history of any nation, has the adult generation failed their children morally as much as we have.
Ouch, yes, I agree Max. The problem is made worse by our politicians that encourage dependency of the family by making it okay to be on the government dole. Here is your Obama Phone. Here is a check to buy food (oh, we know it buys drugs but we won’t look). Lots of problems today that need to be cleaned up at the family and govt levels.
Well said guys. Thank you for being the beacon of reason.
Right but that is not enough to make a change. More drastic action needs to be taken to step up and sound off when we see the depravity in our schools and in institutions.
Excellent article that delivers a powerful message.
Live every day as if what you do matters—because it does. I think you are right about the powerful message here by Gen. Satterfield. We would do ourselves good, Yusaf, if we all adopted reasonable responsibilities instead of pushing it off on others.
Such a great story about this man (and his wife, of course) in that he was a Doughboy in WW1 and such a great husband and father. You were indeed honored that he spoke to you about the war. None of them are left to talk about it.
Even our WW2 vets are nearly all gone now, in particular, those who served in the early parts of the war. Those were specifically the most difficult of times because there was an excellent chance that the Axis powers would win. Then our goose was cooked.
Yep, and most of us are taught in school these days to ignore responsibility since that is an old fashioned idea that is out of tough with us new “woke” superior people /sarc.
“How to Take Responsibility for Your Life”
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-take-responsibility-for-your-life-1919214
Nice article that adds a little to the idea.
You are totally responsible for your life. This is the foundational principle you must embrace if you plan for happiness and success in your life and work.
Good quote from the article. ?
Yes, thanks, I hit “post comment” before I got there.