The responsibilities of ownership

“Any asset comes with attendant costs, risks and
responsibilities. And anybody who doesn’t take those seriously is a
poor steward of the asset.

In the physical world, we know this very well. If you own a
house, there are taxes to pay every year, there will be some bills
for energy and maintenance, and there’s paperwork to fill out. I
was rudely reminded of this when I got an SMS at 2am this morning,
care of British Gas, helpfully reminding me to settle up the gas
bill for a tenant of mine. If we fail to take care of these
responsibilities, we’re at risk of having the asset degraded or
taken away from our care. An abandoned building will eventually be
condemned and demolished rather than staying around as a health
hazard. A car which has not been tested and licensed cannot legally
be driven on public roads. In short, ownership comes with a certain
amount of work, and that work has to be handled well.”

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