Each day we are faced with a decision to give it our all, just enough, or nothing at all. I know it will be too much to ask of many of you to give it your all 100% of the time, but imagine if you could and did! Even I need to take a break or a day off now and again. With that being said, I want to introduce into your daily regime the factor of holding yourself accountable. To be accountable means to hold yourself true to your words and actions. Whether you are late for work or fail to complete a project for your business, I want you to be the person in charge. In this blog, I want you to take the excuses and blame game out of your life and start to hold yourself accountable for all the things you do or neglect to do.

If you are the type of person who loves to procrastinate, then I want to welcome you to the club. I want to tell you that you are not alone in wanting to procrastinate things in life. However, if you procrastinate from today forward, I want you to own it. I do not want you to make up a “good” excuse as to why you are not doing something or making progress toward your goals. What I do wish for you is to own up to your shortcomings and learn how to avoid them in the future. You see, the brain can be lazy at times, and if you let it, then it will remain that way. This can all be avoided with a proper schedule and a daily routine.

If you can hold yourself accountable, then your dreams and goals can be achieved. Part of my job is to hold people accountable for what they set out to accomplish in their life. Your biggest dreams often come with the greatest challenges that you will have to endure. Sometimes you may have to battle with a particular task because it can be challenging or tedious. On the other hand, you can be in a state of deep work and make huge strides toward progress and completion. Regardless of what you decide to do, there has to be some type of accountability in place. What happens if you don’t do it? Are there any repercussions, or do you get away scot-free? If you have been living your whole life with procrastination and are trying to battle it to no unveil, then it is time to incorporate accountability into your life.

In the first year of coaching, I would have many clients who wanted to get in shape. They saw how I looked and wanted to have that type of healthy body too. I gave them everything they needed, from what they should eat to how they would work out. I was curious about the effects of accountability and drivers to motivate a person to get in shape. One of the main drivers for holding someone accountable was money. As much as I know money is not the route to happiness, it can be the route to your success. By this, I mean you put your money where your mouth is.

I noticed a huge difference in drive, motivation, and continued strides for better health by the clients who paid large sums of money (over $100). I then had a group of people I would work with and give them a free trial period. The free trial people were quicker to quit than the people who paid. That is because of their investment. They wanted to be accountable for the money they had to spend. The free trial group had nothing to lose, and the end result was them not committing to their goal of getting in shape. As you can see, accountability alone was not enough for them to continue their progress. There has to be some type of consequence or factor that will keep you constantly pursuing your goals. If you fail to do this, then you will replace it with the excuses you create for validation of why you didn’t commit to yourself and the goal.

The people in the free trial period group were the people to make the most excuses. Whether something was hurting or they didn’t feel like it that day. It eventually got to the point where I was battling them to get their workouts in and to follow the plan we created together. However, I was mistaken to believe that motivation alone was enough to get someone to do something. The key ingredient needed for change was accountability. People have to realize that the outcome of their life is dependent on them. Who do you blame for your shortcomings or bad days? Do you hate your job/Boss? Perhaps, the police officer pulled you over because your alarm didn’t ring, and you were speeding to work, which for now, you are late for an important meeting? The list can go on of excuses that a person can give. I use being healthy or working out as today’s example, but the truth is it can be for any area of your life.

While learning to be accountable, you must start to own what is in your control. If you are late, then that is yours to own. Do not say that there was traffic, and make an excuse. Excuses cannot live in the mindset of continual growth. If you are late, then you have learned a great lesson. Perhaps that lesson is you should leave 30 minutes earlier for work in the mornings. Nonetheless, it should be you who decides the outcome of your actions.  Regardless of what happens to you, it is crucial that you leave excuses out of the equation. When you can learn how to hold yourself accountable for all you have, do, and want, then you will start to see a massive change in your life.

If you are having trouble staying accountable, then it might be beneficial for you to create a guide or rules that you can follow. In these set rules, you should have the desired results you seek. If you do not achieve those results, then there has to be some type of consequence or accountability for you to own up to. For example, if I do not go to the gym five days this week, later, I have to run the extra mile the following week. I do not want to go the extra mile, so I will be more inclined to get my five gym days in if you are the type of person who can convince yourself of an excuse as to why you couldn’t make it to the gym and how to validate why you do not have to run that extra mile then that would not be a practical consequence. No matter what rules you set for yourself, you have to remain accountable and be honest with yourself.

Suppose you cannot even be honest with yourself, then how can you expect others to be honest with you? This may lead us to a web of lies and hate because of our weaknesses. Jealousy can take over because someone is in a better spot than we are. I can almost guarantee that the people we wish/want to hold themselves to a very high standard. They have to maintain that high standard so they can continually challenge themselves. Excuses do not reside in those who seek growth and daily betterment. If they fail, they own it and learn from it. They do not run or put off their problems on another person. These people find solutions instead of finding an excuse. So the next time you are trying to find a reason or make up an excuse, no matter how true, keep it to yourself.

The highest standard is what you should strive for each day. If you have been doing all the things you were supposed to, then you should be able to produce the results you desire in your life. Putting off till a later date and making excuses will get you nowhere fast. If you take control and responsibility for your life, then you will start to see the impact it can have. Just the simple act of owning what you produce in the world can lift you to the next level. Remain positive in your actions and mindset, so when it is time to hold yourself accountable, it will be a walk in the park for you. Hold yourself responsible for all that is in your life and all that will be. After, make a plan to achieve the goals you set forth for yourself. If, by some chance, you do deviate from that plan, then it is your job to give yourself a proper kick in the behind to refocus and reevaluate. The life you dream of can be yours! Either you want it, or you don’t – you decide that outcome.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts