"One of the best things about directing movies, as opposed to merely writing them, is that there’s no confusion about who’s to blame: you are." – Nora Ephron
There's a lot to be gleaned from this quote, and not just about Hollywood or the creative arts. As it applies to business, Nora's wisdom could be rephrased like this:
One of the best things about owning a company, as opposed to merely collaborating with one, is that there's no confusion about who's to blame: you are.
If you don't like something about your company, change it. If you don't like the way your brand is being perceived by the public, take the steps to fix it. If the buck stops with you, then it stops with you. It doesn't get to stop with you only when things are going right.
Take the reins and bring people on board who are dedicated to your vision and to developing an idea into its best form. You don't get to be celebrated as the person who led your company to success if at times you aren't also the person who fully takes the blame when things don't go well.
Originally published May 2012
