Are You an Owner or a Victim?

An important part of achieving your goals and living authentically is feeling like an owner of your experiences, not a victim. Straight Line Coach has created a fascinating list of over 40 “owner” mentalities and their “victim” counterparts.

For example, when asked for a favor or given a task, an owner will likely respond by saying, “You can count on me,” whereas a victim will answer, “I will try.” The first response conveys not just confidence in your own ability to complete the task, but also your decision to prioritize the needs of the person you’re interacting with. The victim response, although it may be the result of a lack of self-confidence, suggests that  helping the person asking the favor may not be very high on your to-do list.

Similarly, an owner is often interested in creating, whereas a victim is more likely to be found waiting. Proactively creating – whether it’s a work of art, a garden or a business plan -  demonstrates that you value your own ideas and that you feel empowered to impact your world. Waiting suggests that you don’t feel as if you can affect your experiences and that instead, you let the actions of others determine your path.

Finally, an owner lives deliberately, while a victim seeks the approval of others before making life decisions. Living deliberately means listening to and believing in your inner wisdom. On the other hand, seeking approval before charting your life’s course means you are probably less confident in your ability to determine what is right for you and take action accordingly.

The ideas for this blog were adapted from Owner - Victim: Straight-Line Distinctions for Living with Velocity and Power, created by Straight Line Coach.