Stop Outsourcing Your Life: Why Taking Responsibility Beats Crossing Your Fingers

When it comes to getting what you want in life—whether it’s retiring early, buying a home, or just finally feeling in control—there are really only two ways to go about it:

1. Take responsibility yourself, or
2. Hand it off and hope for the best.

Let’s illustrate that with a classic:
You want a new car.
Taking responsibility means budgeting, saving, maybe skipping a few Uber Eats deliveries.
Giving away responsibility? Buy a lottery ticket and manifest that new-car energy.

Guess which one works better?

Real-Life Examples (AKA: Cautionary Tales)

🏡 Goal: Retire Before 50 by Investing in Property

• Give away responsibility:
  You go to a free investment seminar, get hyped up, and sign a contract for an off-the-plan apartment that promises riches.
  Outcome: The market sours, it’s hard to rent out, agent fees eat your returns, and—surprise—the agent vanishes.
• Take responsibility:
  You read books, research suburbs, learn about cash flow and tenant demand.
  Outcome: You buy a modest apartment in a high-demand area. Rental income rolls in. You sleep well at night.

🏦 Goal: Own Your Home

• Give away responsibility:
  The estate agent recommends a mortgage broker. The broker visits you, collects all your details, and you sign the first mortgage they suggest.
  Outcome: The broker only works with a few lenders, and you end up with a 5% rate—costing you $200,000 more over 25 years than the 4% mortgage you could’ve found yourself.
• Take responsibility:
  You spend a few hours comparing lenders online, understand the features that matter, and choose your mortgage.
  Outcome: You save a cool $200,000. Maybe even enough to buy that new car (without the lotto ticket).

🧓 Goal: Retire Comfortably via Superannuation

• Give away responsibility:
  You accept your employer’s default super fund without question because the brochure had nice colours.
  Outcome: You unknowingly bleed thousands in fees over decades.
• Take responsibility:
  You compare super funds, learn about fees, and realise an industry fund charges way less than your workplace option.
  Outcome: You save over $200,000 by retirement. That’s the power of choosing your investment option instead of settling for the default My Super.

See how to save yourself thousands by asking Am I being screwed by my super?

What’s So Bad About Giving Away Responsibility?

Let’s break it down:

• You don’t know if you’re getting a good deal.
  Salespeople often dress up as advisors. If you don’t know the basics, how do you know who’s who?
• No one guarantees success.
  Even personal trainers say “results may vary.” You still have to show up and sweat. Same with money.
• You become dependent.
  When the broker/banker/guru disappears, you're left clueless. That’s not empowerment, that’s vulnerability.
• They may not have your best interests at heart.
  If someone benefits financially from you following their advice, assume bias until proven otherwise.

So, Should You Do Everything Yourself?

Not at all! Good advice is invaluable—but only when you understand enough to know it’s actually good advice. Blind trust isn’t delegation; it’s abdication.

The Goal → Activity → Method Framework

Every goal requires an activity, and every activity can be approached in different ways—some direct, some dodgy.

Let’s take a few goals and walk them through:

💰 Goal: Have More Money

• Activity: Spend less, earn more
• Give away responsibility: Buy lotto tickets. Take your bank’s financial advice without question.
• Take responsibility: Track your expenses. Ask questions. Start saving. Hustle a side income. Get advice—but from someone you choose.

🚀 Goal: Be an Entrepreneur

• Activity: Learn how to run your own business
• Give away responsibility: Sign up for a flashy entrepreneurship course. Wait to be told what to do.
• Take responsibility: Start doing. Sell something. Build something. Help someone. Learn by action, not just lecture.

Courses aren’t bad—but they’re supplements, not starting points. If you’re truly keen, you’ll already be taking steps.

🧘 Goal: Feel Less Stressed and In Control

• Activity: Meditate
• Give away responsibility: Go on a weekend retreat. Come back glowing. Swear to meditate daily... until life gets in the way.
• Take responsibility: Set a reminder. Start with two minutes a day. Build the habit. Consistency > intensity.

The Trap of “Indirect Action”

Ever notice how often we’re sold a method instead of a result?

“Take this course to become an entrepreneur*”
“Join our gym to get fit*”
“Buy our investment property and get rich*”
“Take this mortgage and own your home*”

(* = Results not guaranteed. Side effects may include disappointment and financial regret.)

A Simple Rule of Thumb: Ask What They Get Out of It

“Would you like me to bring customers into your shop every day?”
— Richard Branson’s favourite pick-up line (probably)

Ask yourself: is this advice, or a sales pitch?

• If they benefit financially from your “yes,” treat it as a sales pitch.
• If they don’t, and they clearly know their stuff, it might be real advice.
• Never confuse the two.

“You don’t ask the barber if you need a haircut.”
— Warren Buffett

You’re the Boss

Even if you hate money talk, even if spreadsheets make your eyes bleed—you need to be the one in charge. Advisors can guide, but you drive.

Ask yourself: Why do I avoid this stuff? Is it fear? Is it confusion?
Whatever it is, face it. Google it. Spend 5 minutes. That’s how responsibility begins.

And remember: outsourcing motivation never lasts. True motivation comes from within.

To Take responsibility for one's own actions, god and bad, is something else.

Bruce Lee

In Summary:

• Taking responsibility means understanding the basics and making the calls.
• Giving away responsibility often means giving up control and your money.
• You don’t need to do everything solo—but don’t be blind either.
• Methods matter. If your method relies on someone else doing all the thinking, rethink it.

So next time someone says, “This is the easy way,” ask: Easy for who?

Want to take control of your financial life? Start by asking one question:

“What’s one thing I can do today that future me will thank me for?”

Then go do it.