Accountability, Failure—and the Joy of Starting Over

When the Titanic sank, no one took responsibility—just finger-pointing. NASA, after the Apollo 1 tragedy, paused, owned it, and rebuilt. Johnson & Johnson, during the Tylenol scare, didn't deflect—they acted. I ignored those lessons. I blamed everyone but myself: UBS, my co-defendant, the system. It wasn't until I went to prison that I stopped lying to myself. Only then did I begin to own my failures, rebuild with purpose, and help others do the same. Blame feels good in the moment. But ownership is where progress begins. And rebuilding—on your terms—is more fulfilling than hiding ever was.

Justin Paperny