One of the best ways to make sure you reach your goals is to have someone who holds you accountable.
Do you have that person (or people?) in your life and your business?
Whoever it is, you want someone who will let you know when you're getting off track. Someone who can call you on your stuff and hold you to reality.
Sometimes that person can be a family member or a friend and sometimes that doesn't work. Sometimes the people that love us the most don't want to face conflict, so even when you are getting off track, they let you slide.
A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. ~Proverbs 1:5
How do you continue to grow and who do you seek for counsel?
It's my experience that mentors, ideal clients, and ideal joint venture partners all have one thing in common: they can be right in front of us and we never see it.
Let me illustrate: Have you ever bought a car only to see that same make and model all over the road after your purchase? Is it that all of the sudden more people have purchased that make/model of car — that more are on the road? No! It is that your perspective/focus has changed and cars that you used to ignore on the road now come into focus.
The more open you are to the possibilities, the more you will see what is right in front of you or close.
Make a “Shopping List”
Identify all of the areas that you would like to get counsel for your business. My list is pretty extensive! Over the years I have built an advisory group. No, we don't all get together and talk about Calahan Solutions, Inc. as a group; but I do talk to all of them regularly about their various areas of expertise. I sit as their counsel on some things too. Some members of my team are men and some are women. Some are in my local community and others I've never met in person. Some people in my advisory group are long-term members (people I have talked to since I started my business) and others are short-term.
Then get quiet! Meditate or pray about the list you are making and ask to identify areas you might not see. Open yourself to see the opportunities available with the people you meet.
Hope some of these thoughts help. I'd be honored to be added to your list.
Question: What do you do to find the people that can give you the support you need to enrich the world and fulfill your purpose?
Until we talk again,
Live Fully — Love Openly — Laugh Often — Leverage Your Brilliance — Connect Authentically — Get Your Message Out — Serve with Impact — Prosper Everyday
Andrea Feinberg says
I love the concept of having a ‘wish list’ of desired resources, thus becoming more conscious of their availability more often. Instead of a ‘bridal registry’, in which we tell others of our preferred gifts, we tell ourselves!
Stephanie LH Calahan says
So glad you like the wish list idea Andrea. Thank you for taking the time to comment! I know you have a fantastic set of advisors too. I’d be interested to know what has worked for you.
Andrea says
Stephanie ~ In answer to your question, what I find most powerful when working towards completion of a goal is to connect it with the impact it will make. For example:
– when I complete X it will allow me to enjoy Y
In my planning process, I don’t stop with the achievement of the goal, I envision what till open up for me, what I’ll gain, what others will enjoy or have access to that, without completion of the goal, will not happen.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Always a great strategy Andrea. I do similar visioning. Thanks for sharing what works for you.
Debra Jason says
I have an accountability partner – we touch base every 2 weeks, set goals and then stay in touch in between to see how things are moving along.
I have another colleague who I also touch base with – sometimes every 2 weeks, other times a bit longer apart. However, we offer advice and suggestions to one another.
It’s awesome to have friends, colleagues and mentors (I include you among them Stephani) who support you – personally & professionally.
🙂
Debra Jason says
Oops, typo in my previous post – Stephanie (not Stephani) and I also include Andrea in that group of friends, colleagues & mentors. I forgot to mention that I also am part of a small Mastermind group that meets every 2 weeks (via phone) to support one another.
🙂
D
Stephanie LH Calahan says
🙂
Stephanie LH Calahan says
That is an awesome plan Debra. Having people you can reach out to and run ideas past is huge. I find that a lot of solo entrepreneurs skip this step and create islands for themselves. Do you see similar things? How has your business changed since you put those things in place?
Henneke says
“One of the best ways to make sure you reach your goals is to have someone who holds you accountable.”
This is so true. I find it much easier to stick to deadlines when I’ve agreed them with someone else. Self-imposed deadlines are much more difficult to stick, too.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Henneke – Thanks for dropping by. Yes, self-imposed deadlines are easy to ignore.
Lisa Rothstein says
I have a mastermind group I meet with once a week. We are from different backgrounds but I find that they give really useful feedback from a truly objective perspective. At the same time it’s good to have friends who understand your business and market, and have the expertise to make smart strategic suggestions — and to whom you can contribute too. 🙂
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Both techniques can be really effective. Thanks for sharing Lisa. Care to share how your mastermind group was created?
Lisa Rothstein says
My current group is an offshoot of a high-level group coaching program I joined last year. Our small group has agreed to keep meeting even after our “term” is over.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Ahh. I have done that before too. Great way to keep accountability going.
Brenda Adams says
I was at a networking event yesterday and one of the questions that the group was asked was “what is the biggest challenge you have in your business right now”. My answer was keeping focus and accountability. And for me that works best when I meet a group of people face to face. I would like to find a small group of entrepreneurs who get together every 1-2 weeks to brainstorm, hold accountability etc. Thank you for the article Stephanie, it really reinforced the need for me to have a professional network that I can reach out to.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Brenda – Glad my post gave you a little nudge. With amazing tech like Google+ hangouts and Skype meeting space, you could create your own group with people from around the world if you wanted to.
Lisa Rothstein says
I use G+ hangouts to meet with clients and I think it would be a GREAT mastermind group solution. you can not only see each other but show each other things in real time!