The accountability exercise

Peter Crocker

Forget “New Year’s resolutions”. What about “This Year’s resolutions”? I’d like to suggest a short and simple exercise which will use the proven power of accountability to help you achieve something extremely important this year.

Regulars may remember I posed the same challenge earlier in the year. The concept is that for many people, including me, nothing happens quickly unless there is a specific deadline to meet.

For example, if I say to a client, “I’ll get started next week” the project is guaranteed to drag, whereas if I say “I’ll finish your project by 10am Tuesday” then that’s when it will be done.

The simple fact of telling someone that you will have a task done by a certain time changes everything. The difference is accountability. The fact that I will let someone else down unless I act is a very powerful motivator and sure-fire cure for procrastination.

Once you’ve made the commitment, it’s as good as done. Therefore your challenge is to think of one important project in your business or personal life that would make a big difference to you if it was completed before the end of this year.

Then make the commitment to do it via an online comment. Start with the words “By 10am on the 11^th of December I will have…”

To get things going, I’ve listed my own task, something I’ve let slip for years. In my newsletter on the morning of 11^th of December I’ll be back with a pointy stick and smiley stickers to see how we all went.

Last time, some 50 readers took the challenge and made commitments to update 8 websites, reorganise 3 offices, create 4 business plans, finish several sets of accounts, complete 4 paintings, launch 1 blog, organise 1 sub-division, implement 1 marketing plan, make 1 baby book, have 1 week off, make a 5-year plan and much more.

I’m sure we can beat that. Got something that needs doing? Tell someone who cares.

And finally a HUGE thank you for your fantastic support of our promotional campaign last week. Your postcards are in the mail. Don't know what I'm on about? Read more here.

Love your work,

Peter Crocker is a director of Flying Solo responsible for the areas of marketing and advertising. He is a business copywriter specialising in websites, videos and marketing communications.

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By 10am on the 11th of December I will have sorted, culled, backed up and reorganised four years’ worth of messy files and email folders on my computer. My PC will be spring cleaned and all my info will be fast and easy to find. Peter Crocker from Flying Solo | Read my articles
By 10am on the 11th of December I will have taken possession of a new studio space (the day before!), and will have everything lined up ready to go in. Biting fingernails.... Simone Hanckel from Adelaide
By 10am on the 11th of December I will have presented an innovative fundraising program to 5 new organisations.
Wow, that just made November very busy. Thanks! Wendy Lloyd Curley - WLC Enterprises from Five Dock, NSW, Australia
(See, the only problem with this is that Flying Solo won't kick my behind if I don't do what I say I will ... so for those other INTP Myer-Briggs types out there, can I suggest that you not only write your goal here ... you also send the link for this page to at LEAST 3 friends who you know will make your life hell if you don't do what you say you will ....) By 10am on the 11th December I will have conducted two 'How to Write your Bestseller' seminars ... one in Sydney, one in Melbourne. Meep! Leela. www.leelacosgrove.com Leela Cosgrove from Melbourne, Australia
By 10am on 11 December I will have completed the renovation of my office including painting, organising everything into its new permanent place, file culling and sorting, and have brought all my accounting up to date.
Kathie Stove, in writing from Penneshaw
By 10am on the 11th of December (there, thereabouts :o) I will have my bloody TAX up-to-date!! I'm totally over this stuff but I'm choosing not to run away from it (for another year) - Send me luck (and cash)!! Colin M Stott from an office tingling with ideas in Melbourne!

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