On accountability and getting things done

Through my years of consulting and coaching, I've had several people try to put me in the role of motivator, i.e., remind me and nudge me and make sure I take this action/do prospecting/meet my minimum daily activity requirements, etc.

Here are several reasons why that hasn't and probably won't work when working with me:
1. Motivation comes from within. As I tell clients repeatedly, leaders, managers and business owners don't motivate; they simply remove obstacles to allow their team members to move into higher gears of productivity. An obstacle can be a habit such as a sales professional who tends to stay in the office too long during the sales day handling just about everything except getting in front of decision makers who can and do buy. Removing the obstacle can be as simple as setting and enforcing a rule of an 8:30 a.m. daily deadline for clearing out of the office.
2. I work with adults. Years ago I considered studying to be a high school teacher. The thought was short-lived as I realized that I enjoy children in playtime and I probably lack the gifts and patience required to teach them and work with them. Adults certainly can benefit from reminders, and if they need those constantly from me, I feel as if I'm raising someone else's child. God created calendars and even computers and phones with future reminder functions, including bells, pop up windows and even ring tones from your favorite heavy metal artist, all to help remind oneself of upcoming commitments.
3. Accountability is an individual sport - You and I are accountable and responsible for our actions in this life. Children learn accountability. Some accept it and others do not. Will you put in the time for a bit of exercise three or four days a week to increase your heart rate, reduce your overall stress and tension and strengthen key muscle groups? You will if you want to badly enough. Will you set aside (and use) some quiet time for yourself most days to make sure your reserves are filled regularly? You will if you see the benefit and understand that wearing yourself out does nothing of a favor to those you love and who love you. Will I get my columns written and cleaned in time to meet deadlines for various publications? I will if I sufficiently value those opportunities and my relationships with those editors.

I'm convinced of this: when we want something badly enough in this life, we will move heaven and earth to get it. If you're having trouble getting key things done, it's not a matter of time management or even having a coach or consultant remind you to do them. It's a matter of simply not wanting badly enough the predictable outcome of those particular activities.

You say you want to double your income through your sales? If you want it badly enough, you find a way to contact plenty of people to find those among them that can and will buy what you're selling. If you can't muster the focus and follow through to do this, you value whatever else you're doing more than you value that higher personal income.

Here's an exercise I learned from Brian Tracy. Take a goal, any goal. Write it at the top of a clean sheet of paper. Write the goal statement so that it's clear and measurable. Now, list all the reasons why you want that goal. List every possible benefit you can gain from your accomplishment of that goal. List 50, 100 or more reasons. The more you list, the greater will be your chances of reaching that goal. Why? Because when you want something badly enough, you'll likely do whatever it takes (within legally, ethically, morally acceptable boundaries, I hope) to make it a reality.

I encourage you not only to have goals clearly written and in front of you periodically if not continuously, but also to remind yourself of the reasons why those goals are important to you in the first place. That formula should give you plenty of fuel to to be personally accountable so that you're able to, as Larry the Cable Guy would say, "git 'er dun."

Thanks for visiting. Drop a comment please and visit again soon.

Keep the faith,
John Earl Carroll

Welcome to Breakfast with John

Hello and welcome:

As a writer and consultant, I've observed that my best writing and thinking time of the day is earlier in the day. There are, after all, two kinds of people in the world - morning people and night owls - and I'm one of the former. I married one of the latter and learned quickly that despite my ability to rise and have an intelligent conversation as my feet hit the floor, such conversation is only welcome after, as Lori says, it's a decent hour to have conversation. My early conversation shows up here instead, where I'll awake no one without his or her prior permission.

Why this blog?
This will be a place where I'll share reflections and observations from life, work and faith. I've learned from one of mentors, Alan Weiss, that we need not lead a professional life and a personal life. It's challenging enough to handle one life these days, he reasons, so why add pressure? That's exactly why there's a wide range of thoughts and contributions which will be fair game around here - my blog, so I get to make the rules.

Where to start?
I read recently from a guy I deeply respect - Dan Kennedy - that people of high accomplishment all seem to have a written statement of personal values. I found that interesting since I had created parallel statements of value: Who I Am and What I Do. They've changed through the years but remain the same at the core. Originally written on July 4, 1999, here they are, just in case you're interested:

Who I Am
I am a spiritual being experiencing a human condition. The Spirit of God is in me. In the past, I have confused things by considering myself a human being with spiritual aspects and qualities. I know now that I am spiritual, and only through my thoughts, words and actions do I blur my spirituality. I emphasize and prioritize my spirituality by communing with God (Be still and know that I am God) speaking with Him and listening to Him daily. This is as natural to me as inhaling and exhaling. I am a good example of a spiritual being as I choose peace in all situations. I recognize that the need to be right is ego-driven and the ego’s purpose is to “edge God out.” I know that the emotions of fear, worry, jealousy, anger, bitterness and resentment are ego-driven. Only the ego takes offense. I earn, I do, I accomplish anything and everything as a part of the Spirit and through my spirituality. I am one with and connected with all creation, with all living beings and with all life. I am a grateful being, glorifying the Spirit of God in all aspects of my being.

What I Do
I do things that most other people don’t want to do, i.e., public speaking, selling, writing and listening. I work to improve on these things to do them as well as or better than most of those who are willing to do them. I do these things in ways that generate positive results for organizations and people. Then I find organizations and people who so value the result of how I do these things that they pay me very well to do them. As a result, I can live as I choose to live, give as I choose to give, and love those I choose to love. Thus, discipline leads to freedom and acceptance of responsibility affords me a liberty and lifestyle few others experience.

Let's be clear about something. This blog is not about me. It's about life and what's important in life. Yes, it will gravitate toward the world as I see and filter it. In the end, it will be thoughts and concepts, wisdom and tips that have found me or I them.

I'm glad to have had you visit. Leave a comment if you will and come back soon. Thank you.

Keep the faith,
John Earl Carroll