Courage.
It’s critical to your success.
Your ability to act in spite of your fears is the difference between your success and failure in life.
It won’t matter how much you know or how well you know it, if you don’t take action every day despite your fears, you’ll never end up with anymore than dreams.
Over 40 years of studying and analyzing the critical elements to personal success, the one HUGE difference I have found in the truly successful people is that THEY HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO OTHERS.
Anytime you hold yourself accountable to another person, you’re putting yourself on the line. You’re committing to getting something done within a certain amount of time.
People hate to be held accountable, at least at first. It’s so much easier when we can do whatever we want whenever we want, and if things don’t get done, it isn’t any big deal.
But, once you begin to hold yourself accountable, and especially when you have others you ask to hold you accountable, you will begin to see a huge improvement in your results.
There is a proven path to financial success. Less than 2% ever find it and follow it. It’s a combination of philosophies and strategies.
Few are ever exposed to it. The majority of those who are exposed to it don’t follow through long enough and with enough energy to make it to the Promised Land.
Why? Because they never had the accountability built into their programming so that they couldn’t allow themselves to slide. They never created a support system that continually reminded them of the things they committed to doing for their own success.
I hold my clients accountable, not in a mean spirited way, but as a constant reminder that their success is up to them, and that they’ve committed to doing the things that they know they need to in order to move forward.
Does it make a difference? Only the difference between success and failure.
Want to do yourself a huge favor? Find a coach, or a mentor, or an objective friend who you share your dreams with and then ask them to hold you accountable to them.
Don’t just think about doing this! Do it. Get out of the 98% who read and think and wonder and complain and find reasons why it won’t work and do nothing, and join the 2% who are going where they really want to go and are tired of following the crowd headed to nowhere.
Become accountable.
Namaste.
Jeff
I think you’re right, Jeff, and another thing that people don’t remember is that sometimes you need to make sacrifices in order to stick with your financial plan. If you’re shooting for a goal, you might have to put off that trip you wanted to take, or that purchase you wanted to make. In the long run you’ll end up better off.
Jeff Fagin response:
Thanks for your comment Andrew. Yes, you’re right, there are always tradeoffs in life. The problem is that most people are into immediate gratification, which means they never plan for the future.
Jeff
It’s not just being accountable. It’s setting goals and keeping them. Not just people have to hold you accountable. Whenever you set up a todo list or write something on a calendar which you look at everyday, this is keeping you accountable.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Anthony,
It’s critical to WRITE DOWN the goals you want to achieve. But I’ve known lots of people who write things down and never follow through. When you have someone you’re accountable to, you’re far more likely to get the job done.
Jeff
All of us know that the condition of global market is macabre and a huge number of people are losing their jobs everyday because of this global market meltdown. Many short term companies are forced to shut down and every one is in chaos. The advice given in this article is really helpful and one can tackle this unbalanced market situtation if he or she follow it.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Mukesh,
Thanks for your comment. Although none of us has any control over the markets and the economy, we all have complete control over what we learn and what we choose to do with our time, talents and energy. There are always solutions to every problem, the challenge is to find them.
Jeff
To me this is just good work ethic. You are responsible for your own sucess or failure. The harder you are willing to work on achieving your goal, the more reward you are bound to see. If you are going to do something, do it to the best of your ability.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Trini,
Oh if it were just that easy! Unfortunately, few people have the self discipline to achieve success all by themselves. We all know what we’re supposed to do to have more success, yet we don’t do it. Why? Because we don’t have anyone we’re accountable to, so we just sluff it off. Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule, but in my experience with thousands of people, the majority simply won’t make it on their own.
Jeff
This is so true–holding yourself responsible and committing yourself to an activity should help you keep on track. People should concentrate on tasks to get them done. Everyone must take initiative if they want to accomplish what they want to in life.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Aimee,
When we hold ourselves to a higher standard, we’re on the right path. When we’re brave enough to tell someone else to hold us to those standards, then we’re really on the way. Few people are willing to do that. They don’t want to be held accountable by anyone.
Jeff
These are some great thoughts! I think everything in life comes down to daring to be great. So often I think people are afraid to take chances, and it then prevents them from being able to enter the promised land. I am excited by this blog posting, and I am ready to dare to be great!
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Scott,
Thanks very much for your comment. Well put.
Jeff
wow, interesting article. Is there a way to subscribe to this blog?
Btw, keep up the good work mate.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Calvin,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, you can subscribe to this blog on several places throughout this web site.
Hope to see you here again soon.
Jeff
I completely agree with this. Most people in this country (USA) do not want to take responsibility for their every day actions, much less be accountable to anyone else for their work related actions or goals. Its so much easier to do what you want and not worry about the consequences!
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Scott,
I believe we’re both on the same wavelength.
Jeff
As a matter of fact, accountability is very important not only in the level of interpersonal relations, as Jeff stresses, but also in the level of relations between institutions, organizations and countries.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi rellumoluap,
Excellent points. Thanks.
Jeff
I could not agree with you more. After many years of work in which I was accountable to others to be on time, be prepared, and produce a good product (education) I am now semi-retired. When I first stopped working full time I let myself slip into lazy habits. I found myself losing my incentive to remain active. I now have friends who keep me “on task”. I tutor and have a schedule. My students and their needs help me to keep up to date on educational advancements. I go to exercise classes. However, if I did not have a good friend to call me and tell me how important it is to participate in the classes and how important my presence is to her I would probably get lazy and just skip going. We are really mentors for each other. I feel it is really important to have a support person, or even better group, especially as you get older, to help you keep on task with your life.
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi cangel,
Thank you for your comments. The stronger the support group you have surrounding you to keep you on task, the more success you’ll achieve. It’s too easy to become complacent when you don’t have someone you’re accountable to.
Jeff
Right on! You rock, Mr. Fagin!
Jeff Fagin response:
Hey Mitch. Thanks for the comment. Always great to hear from you.
Jeff
Right on, Jeff! How many times I’ve gone to a seminar, got really excited and then settled back into old habits. Coaching and accountability are the key drivers in making substantial lasting change in any endeavor of life.
Keep the wisdom coming!
Jeff Fagin response:
Excellent pont Andy. Thanks for your comment.
Jeff
Jeff as always, you’re right on the money. In my experience accountability is a huge issue. Most people will never commit to accomplishing their goals to someone else because they fear that they will be viewed as a failure.
Well guess what?
All successful people at one time had failures but they committed and persevered until they achieved success. Look at Thomas Edison. He was surrounded by skeptics and despite over 10,000 failures, we now have the light bulb. Not only was Edison successful but he became rich because of it.
Can you imagine what life would be like today if Thomas Edison didn’t make his commitment?
Keep up the good work…
Dr. Andy Fuehl
Best selling author of
Wealth Without a Job: The Entrepreneurs Guide To Freedom and Security Beyond the 9 to 5 Lifestyle
Jeff Fagin response:
Hi Dr. Fuehl,
Thanks for the comment. Edison was one in a million because of his perserverence and his accountability to himself. He was determined to find the solution, and he would not allow himself the luxury of giving up. If only we all had that attitude.
Thanks again.
Jeff