Getting the Job Done
If you’re like the majority of us, then over the course of your lifetime you’ve started a crap-load of things that you’ve never finished. Or maintained. As I’ve said many times before on this site, most of us are world-champion starters and world-worst completers. At times, anyway. Words, intentions and plans don’t create lasting change; consistent action does and the truth is that many of us simply don’t finish what we start.
An accountability system is something which keeps you and me doing the stuff we need to do, to create the results we want to create (in our world), even when we can’t really be bothered (doing the aforementioned stuff). If I’m getting too technical at any stage, let me know and I’ll back it off a little. 
Dear Diary
Your accountability system could come in the form of a diary. It might be some kind of weekly assessment. It could be regular appointments with a trainer, doctor, dietician, teacher, coach, mentor or a designated person that you call your accountability partner. It could be a written report which is submitted on a regular basis. It might be a daily phone call. It could be an AA meeting. Or a to-do list. It might be a public declaration. Maybe it’s an online journal or blog (scan the net and you’ll find five gazillion personal weight-loss blogs). An accountability system is anything which keeps you moving in the right direction.
Beyond Motivation
These systems help keep us grounded, committed, proactive and focused even when the feeling of motivation (the temporary emotional state) ain’t there. They help us make the change process less emotional and more strategic, logical and practical. Which is important. They also help make it a more rewarding and productive experience.
Of course, going through peaks and troughs of motivation is a typical part of the human experience but when our goal is to create atypical (exceptional) results in our world then it’s crucial that we find a way to stay on track through the motivational troughs. Accountability is indeed a crucial part of the change process and generally speaking, no accountability equals no results.
So the relevant question for this discussion is:
“What will keep you ‘doing’ when you lose motivation, when you’re fearful or when you can’t be bothered?”
If you don’t have an intelligent answer to that question, you better get one, lest you find yourself living in Groundhog Day.
The Idea and the Reality
For many people, their nice, warm, comfortable ‘idea’ of transformation, is brought undone by the practical, messy, uncomfortable reality of it. Sometimes we make success virtually impossible because we want two things which generally don’t reside at the same address: (1) we want to create lasting change and (2) we want to be comfortable.
See the problem?
Change is mostly uncomfortable. Which is why one of the key determinants of success will be your willingness to keep getting uncomfortable. Whatever is more important to you (being comfortable or creating real change) will win out. If you have an over-riding need to be comfortable then (1) do something about it or (2) lower your standards and expectations. Wrap a willingness to get uncomfortable around a good accountability system and you greatly increase your chances of creating massive and lasting change in your word.
Have fun. 
* I’ll announce the winner of last week’s competition, tomorrow.
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I kept trying to find my new career from the “comfort” of the job I’m miserable in. Funnily enough it didn’t work. So last week I decided to quit. I’ve told my manager, I have my end date and a plan to have some time to me and do some serious recouping and soul searching to find that new path. My accountability (though not life long term admittedly) will be the fact that there’s only so long that a) one can soul search without the brain turning to slush and b) that the savings account will continue to pay the bills. But I’m happy to have done what I should have months ago and ditched the security blanket that was clutched so tightly for the sake of the dollars and everyone’s opinion of a right and wrong way to find a new career.
Keeping a diary has been a good way for me to remember times I’ve enjoyed. I hadn’t really thought of it as an accountability system but in fact that’s what it is. In a year from now I’ll know exactly how I’ve been spending my time. My task is going to be goal setting, at the moment I tend to take each day as it comes. That’s something I’ve had to learn to do as a result of illness, so looking further ahead is unfamiliar.
Craig, as always, you’ve flicked that switch. Thanks xx
Kaz
Hi Craig,
Good blog. My downfall is that I become lost in the detail and use the detail to procrastinate. So my solution is to keep it simple.
A good friend says that all the motivation guidance in the world does not work if we do not take accountability for doing what we know we have to do and keep track of it.
No one is perfect so when we go off track it is so so important to get up , brush off the dust and hop on the cycle again.
Also life is full of peaks and lows. The trick is to surf on the wave and paddle extra hard through the doldrums.Not always easy but worth it in the end.
Hi Craig
“What will keep you ‘doing’ when you lose motivation, when you’re fearful or when you can’t be bothered?”
The answer to this is “Fake it til you make it”
I have been on my weight loss journey for a year now – and 35kgs down, of course there have been times where I cannot be bothered.
But you get up, put your sneakers and gym gear on and go and once you’re there you’re ok; and then when it’s over you feel GREAT and glad you went
I think it takes 3 weeks (or something like that) to create a habit??
Well I go to PT 6 times a week now and if I miss a session I feel rotten !!
So yeah, fake it til you make it and just keep going !
Part of being ‘comfortable’ is shifting blame onto things outside ourselves – oh im fat cause of my genes, im alone cause someone hurt me, i cant exercise cause im too busy, i didn’t get elected cause one person changed their mind. in the end we are the only ones who can change our situation. its our job no-one elses so suck it up if things aren’t right. just keep going does work but don’t ignore whats going on inside and acknowledge your feelings even if they are I don’t really wanna get up and run in the rain at 6am. pretty normal i reckon but the answer is to do it anyway
Accountability systems. Thanks Craig. At the moment I have a few in places. Personal trainer twice a month; Slimming World class every week; a friends who are kinda like brother and sisters to me. I guess here on this sive too. It all helps, especially on days like today. Work has been extremely tiring for a few days – constantly firefighting due to some major IT meltdown. My sleep pattern has gone haywire again. I have so many things on the go that my brain doesn’t know when it is time for sleep. Focus on food has taken a back seat.
Am a tad scared to admit it but more dodgy stuff has ended up on the menu. Too tired, too busy, don’t know what to have. Yeah, excuses. I admitted it to a friend today. Now I’m admitting it here too. Am hoping it will spur me into action!
On a positive note, the switch has been flicked with regards to active living. I can’t get enough of it. Today I was close to rebellion but had already told a friend that I’d be going. It was enough to get me upstairs to the gym. I “only” did 10 km on a bike in 22.5 mins – glad I overruled the rebellion and did it anyway
I recently learned to keep it simple.
I have just 2 goals: breakfast daily and floor work 3 times per week.
Once I have those as part of my regular routine I will add a new goal or two.
And the accountability? A $5.95 Kikki K note pad where I can tick off each day I meet my goals! It really works for me.
The MBE weekend taught me about accountability and non negotiables. I had a list of non negotiables a mile long that I had to be accountable for. Thankfully I had the sense to re-evaluate them on the Sunday. They came down to three. I can honestly say that I have not hit the snooze button since I got home. I have exercised a bit more than I normally would (that still needs work
) and not seeing negative in everything is definitely getting better. I have a leather bound pink journal that one of my closest friends gave me. Whenever I need to I write in it and it has those non negotiables written down. It’s a slow process changing the bad habits, but a worthwhile one.
PS…. Still drinking plenty of water. I forget occassionally, but the Berrylicious Tupperware Bottle gets a good work out these days
I think I need someone to crack the whip I am incredibly negative and I know its all in my head… I also see the changes that have happened after I’ve taken a step out of my comfort zone. Alas I always end up back where i start. Vicious circle no doubt, but if you can’t afford to have someone slap you silly and I have little ability to take myself seriously unless I’m telling myself something nasty, negative and self-defeating… then well that really does leave me in the sh*t doesn’t it?
All the greatest plans have no consequence without a deadline, and a deadline has no meaning if there isn’t someone there at the end waiting to beat the crap outta me if i fail. *sigh* Accountability indeed.
Tama