The Day I Learned What It Really Means to Take Ownership

When I was 22 years old, I was a manufacturing supervisor in charge of an entire production area at a busy manufacturing company in Puerto Rico.

At the time, we were in crisis mode. A huge backorder had put pressure on our entire plant. We were working seven days a week just to keep up with shipments, and the pressure from headquarters was relentless. Every shift, every minute of downtime, mattered.

Then one of our critical machines broke down.

Following standard procedure, I submitted a work order to the mechanical shop. That’s what I was trained to do. I documented the issue and waited for them to handle it.

THE WAITING GAME

The next morning, in a meeting with my manager, he asked, “Is the machine back up?”

I replied, “No, I submitted a work order yesterday. It’s still waiting on the mechanic.”

The following day: same question, same answer.

And then again, on the third day, he asked the same question. My response hadn’t changed.

That’s when he stopped, looked at me, and said, “I want to ask you something.”

A CAR, A MECHANIC, AND A LESSON

He said, “Imagine your car breaks down. You take it to the mechanic, and they say, ‘Leave it here, we’ll call you when it’s fixed.’ But three days pass, and you haven’t heard a thing. What do you do?”

Without hesitation, I said, “I’d call the mechanic and ask what’s going on. Let them know I need the car, it’s a priority.”

He nodded. “Exactly. That production area, that’s your car. You’re not just responsible for what happens in that space. You’re responsible for making sure everyone who touches your process is doing their part, and doing it on time. Submitting a work order isn’t enough. You’ve got to follow up.”

OWNING THE OUTCOME

That conversation changed the way I lead.

I realized that being in charge isn’t about ticking boxes or doing only what’s in your job description. It’s about owning the outcome. Whether the roadblock is within your control or someone else’s responsibility, if it affects your project or your team, it’s yours to handle.

Since that day, I’ve carried that lesson into every role I’ve taken on. Procedures matter, but leadership means stepping beyond procedure. It means being the one who chases the answer, makes the call, and ensures the work gets done, no matter who’s technically assigned to it. Responsibility doesn’t stop at your job title. It extends to everything that impacts your mission.

...and if something’s broken, don’t wait. Call the mechanic.