Ever had a trusted accountability partner?
Ever been in need of an organization such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery or had to attend some sort of rehab / detox due to an addiction?
Ever had someone with whom you could share your hopes and dreams without them being dashed to pieces as a result of their past hurts, failures or negativity?
Someone who could hold you accountable to your goals and commitments?
Choosing someone to share with and hold you accountable is a delicate thing for the following reasons:
- You don’t want to tell too many people at first because you don’t need to hear everyone’s opinion. It’s already difficult enough to follow your heart / intuition without hearing every negative, pessimistic, cynic around you calling your dream down and telling you that it cannot be done.
- You DO need a few CAREFULLY SELECTED people to whom you can be accountable because, well, you need it.
When I moved to Los Angeles, I told only a few people at first to get the ball rolling. Then, as I began moving forward, I told everyone at large and that was it. And ultimately, there was only a slight amount of push back from my first L.A. roommate’s cynical best friend, but I didn’t know him so I got over it pretty quickly. And here I am, over two years later still trucking along. Getting by with a little help from my friends.
Speaking of accountability, try laying yourself on the altar of public opinion. Try advocating for and building a brand that is completely predicated upon “What are you going to do when the bottom drops out? Are you going to remain even keeled or are you going to lose it?”
Yeah. Well, you’re reading the blog that undergirds the lifestyle brand that is advocating just that.
I’ve completely staked my tents on the front lines of that entire thing. And now I’m accountable to, well, technically everyone on the planet with an internet connection. So what do I do? Do I fold them up and go home when things get tough? I daresay not.
It's a pretty terrifying place to be, nonetheless. But remember...
"Courage is the art of being the only one
who knows that you are scared to death."
-Earl Wilson
Do I grit it out and gut it out and dig down deep and pray it out and wait it out? When the going gets tough, the tough get going right? Tough times call for tougher people right? You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have right? What happens to those who have never experienced anything rough? They fold like origami cranes. They collapse like empty aluminum cans under pressure.
Or they come to you, the one who is rock solid to help sustain them.
When you have accountability it forces you to be one of those people who DOES WHAT THEY SAY THEY’RE GOING TO DO. 90% of people don’t do what they say they’re going to do. The math is simple. All you have to do is SHOW UP and DO IT and you’re setting yourself far ahead of those that are all talk and no action, and no follow through. You're putting yourself in that elite 10%.
Seriously.
Rome was indeed not built in one (strong) day. It was built with many, many, MANY back-to-back strong days. Commitment. Endurance. Vision. Goals. Marathon not sprint.
And now, If I ever back slide and step away from the day-to-day STRONG DAY business of inspiration, motivation, wellness, healthy choices, fitness, etc., I give EVERYONE permission to hold me accountable to that. You have carte blanche to call me out, to ask me why I’m not walking the talk, to ask me what gives? Sure there may be times (WILL be times) where I am going through a rough patch. We all have them. I’ve exercised for almost 20 years, have definitely had my rough patches and I’ve come back from them, mostly on my own. But now, it goes to a whole new level. Everyone, friend or family or fan or foe or acquaintance, you can call me out. Because it’s MY job to call YOU out.
It’s how we become better. And strong.
HAVE A STRONG DAY.
Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 12:10PM 
