Accountability

This tip came to me as a weekly e-mail from Keith Ferrazzi. I thought it was a good idea and made me start to think about who I would want to team up with.

It’s a new year and 2008 is going to bring you what you want, I promise. How can I make that promise? Because I promise you are more likely to stick to your resolutions WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS. I just spent seven days in life-planning bootcamp that I put on for a group of my friends and I have all my goals clearly laid out.  A complete first draft of my next book by June. Getting my blood pressure down to 130/70 without meds. Going to a spiritual service every week… list goes on.

To be a successful goal-getter, you must first define your goal. It will likely fall into one of the seven aspects of what I call our personal success wheel: health & wellness, spirituality, job & career, intellectual & cultural, financial, deep relationships and giving back. Your goal must be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound.
 
But you can’t do it alone. This is the key to success where in the past you may have slipped! Choose three friends to serve as your accountability buddies. Knowing they are watching you will help you to stick to and reach your goals. I like to call it peer-to-peer pressure. They can cheer you on, send you inspirational songs and helpful website links, whatever it takes. I’m doing this with my sister and a few friends already.
 
But then you should also rally your friends to make improvements in their own lives. Don’t leave them in your dust – bring them along with your success.
 
To help you and your friends get your goals, my team has developed an application called Goal Post on Facebook. It is an easy and visual way to set your goals, choose your accountability buddies and keep track of your progress.
 
Come on, do it now, this works and will significantly increase your likelihood of achieving your goals, but will also be another way to PING your friends and associates and invite them in to be closer to you. And for you to encourage them to count on you to do the same for them! This not only good for you, but it will build your relationships, I promise.
 
So, to a healthier, happier and more successful year and you!