Personal Responsibility is Essential for Success
John Smith
Gen 200
January 25, 2014
Professor Charles Shapiro

Lack of personal responsibility will keep some people from achieving goals and dreams. Personal responsibility creates the foundation for success, successful behaviors, and not being dependent on others for success. Some people will blame other individuals or circumstances that may arise instead of their deficient level of personal responsibility for their lack of success. Three main components of personal responsibility that are the core to achieving academic success are time management, stress management, and health. Without following these few key points academics can be more of a challenge than it should be.
Taking responsibility for one’s actions is the first step towards building a solid foundation for one’s success. It is likely that one will make some wrong choices, but it is in making wrong decisions that create opportunities to learn valuable lessons. When one admits to being wrong, it creates a vulnerability that is needed to grow in decision-making. Being honest is what will set one free to be able to learn more about one’s self and to become better. Ellis (2011) found “ The principle of telling the truth is applied universally by people who want to turn their lives around” (p. 25). All of these self-evaluation practices will be ineffective without taking action. It is like having a combination to a lock and never using the combination to open that lock. Action is what creates opportunity and only then will results be seen.
Creating successful behaviors is necessary if one plans on maintaining personal responsibility and success. Time is one major part of the process that can never be recovered. Time management is essential in planning successful schedules and daily plans to achieve goals. The purpose of daily plans and schedules is to