11. Take Ownership Meaning: How to Put Yourself First Without Losing Everything Else with Becky Sporrer
- May 30, 2023
- 12 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like your own needs are an afterthought, you're not alone. Understanding the phrase take ownership meaning isn't just an intellectual exercise — it's a practical, daily shift that changes how you show up for your family, business, and yourself. In this article you'll meet a woman who, like me, built businesses while raising kids, discover the simple routines that actually work, and get hands-on tips you can use tomorrow — especially if you're among the many mom working outside the home or working from home moms juggling deadlines, diapers, and dinner.
Why "take ownership meaning" matters right now
We live in a world full of notifications, expectations, and well-meaning advice that often contradicts itself. Take ownership meaning isn't about becoming selfish; it's about clarity. It's about deciding where your value comes from so that you stop waiting for external validation and start making choices that fuel you. For many women — teachers, entrepreneurs, farmers, corporate employees, and especially working moms — that clarity is a game changer.
If we haven't met yet, I’m Brittany, an online marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs. I teach women how to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality through smart, actionable marketing strategies that get them seen, loved, and paid. Whether you’re eager to DIY your way to success or hire professionals to help you along the way–my goal is to make sure you walk away with the clarity you need to see the results you desire and build a life you love.
Meet Becky Sporrer
Becky Sporrer is a wife, mom, step-mom, friend, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, ex-wife, business owner, employee, teacher and most importantly a Woman of God. Wearing so many different hats keeps her life crazy, wild, exhausting but always a TON of fun! Her passion is to help and encourage women to take ownership of their life and to put themselves on the top of their priority list so they can live their best life for themselves and their family. She is excited to take the lessons she has learned and share them with women in her first book. Her dream is to connect, encourage, cheer for and speak love to women of all ages!
Table of Contents
Family first — but not at your own expense
Raising four teenagers (ages 13–16) in a busy household taught Becky the value of listening and presence. She and her husband run a farming operation together, which means work is part of their relationship and their home life. What kept coming up for her was the same lesson many working moms hear: you cannot give from an empty cup.
This is central to her take ownership definition (the the inspiration for the name of her book). Instead of measuring worth by a never-ending to-do list, Becky chose to measure it by intentional actions that refill her cup. The result? A home that still runs, kids who thrive, and a woman who knows who she is even when external praise is missing.
Stop chasing balance — learn the language of seasons
One of the clearest reframes Becky offers is that "balance" is a myth. Instead, she treats life as a series of seasons. Farming has busy seasons (shipping cattle, planting, harvest) and slower seasons (winter maintenance, planning). Businesses have launches and lulls. Kids have milestones and ordinary weeks.
When you use the language of seasons rather than balance, you allow for concentrated effort in one area without guilt. That shift is a powerful part of the take ownership meaning: you decide what this season requires and how to give it your best without pretending every area can receive equal attention all the time.
The pendulum and the price of being everywhere
Becky describes a familiar pendulum many women experience: self-sacrifice on one side and resentment on the other. We swing from giving everything away to swinging the other way and doing everything for ourselves — then feel guilt and repeat the cycle. The pivot point? Ownership.
Take ownership meaning asks: who determines your value? When you own your worth internally, you stop letting the pendulum control you. You set boundaries, make better choices, and stop waiting for an "atta girl" from someone else to feel whole.
One of my favourite quotes from our conversation on the Go Get Great podcast (which you can listen to using the podcast player below) is:
"If you put yourself at the top of the priority list... then you are able to pour out of a heart full of love that is full instead of giving out of nothingness."
Small habits, big shifts: the 5-minute rule
Change doesn't need to be dramatic. Becky and other women who reclaim their time often start with five minutes a day. That might look like:
Five minutes of stillness or prayer to set daily intention
Five minutes of journaling to track wins and release worries
Five minutes of movement to wake up the body and brain
These tiny moments build identity over time. When you practice small acts that remind you who you are, you begin to experience taking ownership practically: you feel capable of making decisions that align with your values.
How Becky juggles entrepreneurship and motherhood
Becky has multiple roles: an instructor, a farmer, a stepmom, a mom, and now an author of a book called Take Ownership. Her approach offers practical lessons for busy women, especially working moms and working moms from home:
Accept that some seasons are work-heavy and others aren't.
Steal minutes — a quick conversation over coffee, a ride-along in the tractor, a five-minute hand-hold during a hectic day.
Use tools that protect family time, like limiting tech during meals and evening card games that pull teenagers away from screens.
Set expectations with your partner about shared responsibilities and realistic rhythms for together time.
None of these are revolutionary, but together they create a sustainable system. What feels loud in your calendar is just a season. Take ownership means choosing which seasons demand deep focus and agreeing with your partner on how to survive those stretches without losing each other.
Working with your partner without losing the spark
Running a business with your spouse is an intimate test. For Becky and her husband, the solution wasn't rigid balance. It was radical honesty about seasons and creative ways to steal moments. Often couples expect grand gestures — candlelit dinners or scheduled date nights — but those aren't always possible. Instead,
Becky suggests small, regular gestures that keep the connection alive.
Ideas you can try:
Short rituals: a five-minute check-in before bed or a morning cup of coffee together.
Micro-dates: hop into the truck, walk the fields, do a short task together and chat.
Shared chores as connection points: doing dishes or driving kids together becomes quality time.
Those small acts build momentum and are in tune with the take ownership meaning — choosing how you spend your minutes so you feel fulfilled in both relationship and work.
Practical steps to claim take ownership meaning this week
Ready for a concrete plan? The next section gives a week-long framework to experiment with ownership practices that won't require massive life upheaval.
Day 1: Identify one thing you will own
Write one sentence: "This week I will own..." It can be small: "This week I will own my morning routine," or "This week I will own 10 minutes of uninterrupted quiet." Put it somewhere you can see.
Day 2: Five minutes first
Set your alarm five minutes earlier and do something that fills you — breathwork, prayer, gratitude notes, or stretching. This is not time to scroll — it's time to refill.
Day 3: Boundary sprint
Choose one boundary for the day: no phone during meals, two hours of focused work with no interruptions, or delegating one chore to a partner or teen.
Day 4: Celebrate small wins
At the end of the day, write three short wins. Celebrate aloud or with a partner: "You go, girl." This trains your brain to notice effort and progress.
Day 5: Say no once
Politely decline one thing that does not align with your week's focus. Saying no is a muscle that builds identity and protects your priorities.
Day 6: Connect with one person
Spend five minutes listening to a kid or your partner without trying to fix anything. Presence fuels relationships far more than achievements.
Day 7: Reflect and plan
Reflect on what worked, what didn't, and set a single intention for the next week. Small, repeated actions compound — the compound effect works when minutes add up.
Tools that actually help (no fads)
Becky favours simple tools: habit trackers, a short morning routine, and a literal five-minute block. A habit tracker (paper or app) turns tiny actions into visible momentum. The book The Compound Effect (which I've read and highly recommend) explains this principle well: small daily decisions lead to massive outcomes over time.
Other tools you can experiment with:
Time blocking for priority tasks
Shared family calendars for clear expectations (I've been eying the Skylight calendars)
Micro-chore charts so kids contribute and learn responsibility
The High Five Habit — practical ways to cheer for yourself daily.
The High Five Habit Journal — I found this very helpful for grounding during busy seasons
Simple habit trackers and a weekly planning ritual — low-tech works well here.
Working moms & working moms from home: special considerations
If you're juggling a career and childcare — whether remote or outside the home — the pressure to perform everywhere is real. For working moms the lines between professional and personal blur. That makes take ownership meaning more essential, not less.
Tips tailored for you:
Designate a physical space for work, even if it's a corner. It sends a message to your brain that when you're there, you're focused.
Communicate clearly with your household about expectations during work hours.
Take micro-breaks intentionally: 10 minutes of movement or five minutes of breath can reset overwhelm faster than a long but unfocused break.
Model boundaries for kids: your work is real, and your time matters.
Generational differences and how to respond
Not everyone in older generations will understand the language of mental health, boundary-setting, or a working mother who needs regular time away. Becky experienced this with her own mom, who grew up in a different era of expectations. The important takeaway is empathy + clarity.
How to respond without a fight:
Listen to their experience — they likely worked hard in a different context.
Explain your context briefly: childcare costs, mortgage pressures, and the realities of modern life shape different choices.
Model your choices rather than defend them. Kids learn by watching your boundaries more than by hearing explanations.
Not all family and friends will understand or be supportive, this is where taking ownership of your goals and priorities is important so you can continue even when those around you don't understand or support you. It can be challenging but it is doable!
Boundaries that actually stick
Boundaries feel harsh until you realize they’re kind. They protect your time and sanity so you can be present where it matters. Start with concrete, reversible boundaries so you don't feel trapped. Examples:
No phones during dinner, but texts allowed for emergencies.
Two hours of focused work each morning, after which you’re available for family tasks.
One "accountability" person you check in with weekly to maintain perspective and keep growth consistent.
How to talk to your partner about seasons and expectations
Start the conversation with curiosity and mutual goals. Becky recommends having each of you:
Outline the season you’re in: financial goals, business launches, crop cycles, or school demands.
State your needs: "This season I need us to share dishes and bedtime duties so I can focus X hours a day."
Ask for a reciprocal commitment: "When your season is busy, I will step in more in _ way."
Create micro-rituals to keep intimacy alive during busy months. "In this season I would love for us to do _ to stay connected".
These steps build trust and allow both partners to take ownership of the relationship and the life they’re building together.
Parenting teenagers — listening matters more than lecturing
Since I don't have teens yet, I had to ask Becky for her advice. She notes that as kids become teens, their stories might sound trivial, repetitive, or even annoying. Becky’s advice: listen. Keep the line of communication open. That doesn’t mean you let standards slide — it means you invest energy into what matters to them, even if it seems small to you.
Listening is one of the simplest yet most radical ways to model take ownership meaning: you show them how to prioritize relationships and be fully present even when life is busy.
Work-life systems that don't suck the joy out of either
Systems can sound boring, but a few simple ones save endless friction:
A weekly family planning session (15–20 minutes) to coordinate schedules and assign responsibilities.
A habit tracker for personal routines so small wins accumulate.
Regular "status checks" with your partner about mental load and emotional bandwidth.
Systems free cognitive energy. That's a huge part of take ownership meaning — designing life so you're choosing rather than reacting.
What if you feel guilty? A quick reframing exercise
Guilt is a fast trickster. When it shows up, try this quick reframe:
Notice the guilt without judgment.
Ask, "Is this guilt rooted in external expectations or my own values?"
If it's external, remind yourself of your priority for the season. If it's internal and useful (e.g., you forgot an important commitment), make an actionable plan to correct it.
This practice helps you separate toxic guilt from useful responsibility, which is central to take ownership meaning.
When to ask for help (and how to ask)
Asking for help is not weakness. It's an ownership move. You are choosing resources and relationships that protect your priorities. Here's how to ask effectively:
Be specific: "Can you take laundry on Tuesdays?"
Be kind: "I would really appreciate your help this week — it's a busy season."
Offer reciprocity: "When your schedule gets tight later, I'll cover X."
Notice how asking for help expresses take ownership meaning: you are choosing to mobilize support rather than silently burning out.
Final thoughts: habit over heroics
Take ownership meaning is not a one-time fix; it's a lifelong muscle you strengthen with small, intentional acts. Whether you're a multi-hat entrepreneur, a teacher, a farmer, or one of the busy working moms, or working moms from home balancing remote work and childcare, the same principles apply: pick one tiny habit, protect it fiercely, and watch it change everything. Take ownership meaning becomes real through tiny, brave daily choices — not one grand gesture. It's the five minutes you spend in stillness, the boundary you set at dinner, the honest conversation with your partner about seasons, the delegation to a teen learning responsibility.
If you're ready to make a small, sustainable change this week, try the five-minute start and a single boundary. Celebrate the win and repeat. You might be surprised how quickly "small" becomes transformative. Becky would also encourage you to read her book, Take Ownership, and to connect with her on social media @mrsbeckysporrer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taking Ownership
How do I explain take ownership meaning to someone who thinks it's selfish?
Start with language that resonates: ownership is about responsibility, not selfishness. Explain that by taking ownership of your identity and priorities, you can serve your family and community with more energy and patience. Use examples: getting five minutes to reset in the morning makes you a calmer parent; delegating chores teaches kids life skills. Show the outcome rather than defending the concept abstractly.
Can take ownership meaning work if I'm a stay-at-home mom?
Absolutely. Ownership isn't tied to employment status. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a high-powered executive, the principle remains: you choose the source of your worth and how you manage your time. For stay-at-home moms, ownership might look like scheduled self-care, asking for help, and creating micro-boundaries to protect mental space.
What if my partner doesn't understand the seasons idea?
Begin with curiosity. Ask your partner how their seasons feel. Share one simple example of your current season and request a small, specific support action for a limited time. Offering reciprocity — promising to pick up the slack later — helps reduce defensiveness and builds trust.
How often should I check my habit tracker to see results?
Daily check-ins for tiny habits are ideal. Weekly reviews help you notice patterns and adjust. The compound effect happens when you show up repeatedly, so consistency matters more than perfection.
Is it okay to be ambitious and still prioritize family?
Yes. Take ownership meaning supports both. Being ambitious means you create a plan for how to blend goals with family rhythms. Prioritize seasons so you can engage deeply where needed and protect family time during those seasons. Ambition and family are not mutually exclusive when guided by intentional choices.
How do I start when I feel completely burnt out?
Begin with the smallest possible step: five minutes of stillness. Hydrate, breathe, and choose one tiny action that signals self-care. Then pick one boundary for the day. The success of these small steps rebuilds capacity and creates momentum toward fuller ownership of your life.
Episode Resources:
*Some of thesr are affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission if you decide to purchase through them. Thank you for supporting my work!
Connect with Becky
Instagram @mrsbeckysporrer
YouTube @mrsbeckysporrer
Visit her website mrsbeckysporrer.co
Come say hi!
00:00 Intro
2:44 Mom talk
10:18 Becky's business journey
12:36 Separating business and relationships
17:30 Time management
18:45 Take Ownership, Becky's book
26:00 Societies' opinion of women and priorities
34:20 Tips for women and self-worth
42:35 Wrap up
Comments