I recently had lunch with a CEO/Founder of a half billion dollar company. I mentioned that I had heard that one of his key people was no longer with him. He said yes that the man had moved on to another opportunity.

He went on to add, “He was smart, ambitious, honest, loyal, hardworking, and generally produced great results.”

Sounds like a great employee so far doesn’t it? And a possible loss to the organization?

He went on, “But when things went wrong, it was never his fault. I don’t take to excuses well. I would have probably kept him for a long time, but when he came into my office and mentioned that he had the opportunity to go into ownership in another business, I encouraged him and told him that I thought his career needed an experience just like the one he described.”

I share this discussion with you because if you are in the business of managing brands at any level, taking responsibility is key. You are in a cause and effect business. Your job is to create, execute and manage causes that will produce the desired effect on your brand. When the desired effect does not materialize, it is because the causes you planned and executed were insufficient to the task. It’s your brand. It’s your plan. It’s your responsibility. Take it.