The tide's coming in, fast. Your kayak is there on the
sand, starting to get gently nudged.
Meanwhile you're flat out on a beach towel. Hot sun. Cool
breeze. Iced tea. Are you going to get up in time to save
your kayak from floating out to sea?
Your business may be calling, all kinds of important things
to get done. But who can lift a finger when the sun is so
bright?
Sipping iced tea is just like checking email.
If you checked email 1000 times yesterday, you're just as
likely to check email 1000 times today. And not get to that
really important project that's going to really help your
business set sail.
What's going to make you get to it? Well, if sand blew in
your face and your bills weren't going to get paid, that
panic would probably have you jumping up to work on your
business.
It's effective. But not very fun. And it takes you right
out of your heart and inspiration.
So why can't you just have gentle reminders?
The sun is crossing the sky. The breeze is picking up. All
of these signs are telling you the tide is coming in, and
your kayak needs tending to.
But the sun is so warm, and you're so comfortable... do you
really need to get up... just... yet?
Are panic and force the only way to get things done?
Accountability replaces the rising tide.
Instead of waiting for a force of nature to move you, you
can create some support in moving yourself. And it involves
creating accountability.
Unfortunately, accountability is a dirty word if you have a
tendency to be like a drill sergeant, whipping yourself
toward your goals. This is even harsher than facing the
rising tide.
Except this time it's self-imposed. So, instead of
responding, you ignore it, or fight it. Either way, it's
easy to forget in the moment -why- you're working toward
some deadline or other.
You need two types of accountability.
The first accountability is 'external' where you create a
rising tide for yourself. And the second accountability is
'internal,' where you have compassionate support to face
the tide.
Hmmm... seems kind of confusing, internal, external,
compassionate support, rising tide. How does it really work?
Keys to Compassionate Accountability
* External means committing so they are counting on you.
External accountability is when you set a deadline, and
announce it to the world. You pre-sell your book, and
people are expecting it by a certain date. You take out a
business loan that comes due in 18 months.
Your clients are counting on you, or the person or
institution that invested in you is counting on getting
their money back. Either way, people see you are the
expert, the provider, and the one who can make it happen.
This helps you rise to your potential. It squeezes you,
pushes you to perform, perhaps in ways you never thought
you could.
* Internal means you are counting on them.
Internal accountability is when you collect friends,
colleagues, mastermind buddies, a coach or mentor to help
bring a merciful attitude towards your goals.
These are people you trust, who love and care for you. You
can lean into them. If you get in a jam, they aren't going
to whip you; they are going to help you navigate through.
They'll help you hold to the external deadline when they
believe you can do it.
And when they see you might drown, they'll help you come up
with a merciful alternative- like extending your deadline.
Adversity can bring the best out in you. It will wake you
up, get you off your beach blanket, and bring your business
to safety- paddling it towards whatever goals you've set
for yourself.
And, if you also have internal accountability, it means
you're never alone at sea. Use both internal and external
accountability, and you'll get your business to safety, far
ahead of the rising tide.
----------------------------------------------------
Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your
Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your
Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line.
He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the
globe succeed in business without lousing their hearts. Get
three free chapters of the book online:
http://www.heartofbusiness.com
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