Done pointing? Now, poke eye!

​The designer delivered the artwork late and then the printer goofed up, I justified. The newsletter ought to have arrived a week earlier.
The boss looked patient, on-the-verge patient. After letting the silence linger loud and long, he spoke softly.
“The printer was not late, the designer was not late, nor were half-a-dozen others you must be working with. You know the only one who goofed up? You. You can do nothing about all of them. All that you can control is what you do. Don’t tell me about what they did or didn’t. What did you do to achieve your goal? What did you do to anticipate, prevent or deal with the worst they could do?”
I dismissed it as boss-talk as soon as I escaped. But something must have sunk in. Over the years, I found myself pointing less, preparing more. The occasional slip-ups caused less damage.
What he said then sounds loud and clear now.
Point a finger at all and sundry for everything that gets in your way. Let spit fly, blood flow. After you are done, turn the finger around and poke your eye. That will help you see better.
That when it comes to your goal, not he, not she, not they, it’s the I that matters.