Today is Day 11 of my accountability experiment. I am trying to determine if accountability is helpful in my business and personal life.
So far, I have made big changes personally (which are covered in previous posts). However my working hours have been focused on finishing a book, so — other than keeping me focused on a single task — the accountability hasn’t played a big role in my business.
My goal was to have my book complete by Monday, September 22. I spent yesterday doing some additional research that I hadn’t anticipated, which put me behind schedule. My son is home from college for the weekend, so I’m excited to see him tonight after very little contact over the last six weeks. (And by “little contact” I mean not a single phone call or text in the last two weeks!)
With my son due home shortly, I was wondering if my accountability experience would motivate me to put in a full day of writing. Nope. I did some housekeeping and some baking. I even watched a TV show with my daughter. I did accomplish my personal goals (exercise, finances and vitamins), but otherwise felt like I was on vacation.
I think the problem may not be the accountability process. It is the way I set my goals. “Finish my book” was a lofty goal and, when I set it, I hadn’t worked on the project for months. I really had no idea how much time it would take. A better goal would have been “to spend 75 hours, over the next two weeks, working on my book.” That would have been something that was under my control.
I realize that a lot of my recent goals have been about outcomes, which I could not really control. Sure I want to “lose 5 pounds in 48 hours.” But a better goal would be to walk at least 2 miles per day, at least 5 days per week. That is under my control and I’m able to be successful.
The personal goals I set were controllable. My goal was not “to have a normal Vitamin D level on my December blood tests.” My goal was to take my vitamins every morning. Until I get more feedback via the blood tests, that’s all I can do.
I will be working over the weekend and hope my book will be done. If not, I’ll be talking to my coach on Monday. I’m going to change my “finish my book” goal to committing to six hours per day of writing until it’s complete.
To Be Done Before October 10, 2014
- Send Proposal for Blogging workshop — Done
- Finish “Make Time to Blog Workbook” — In Process
- Choose price for workbook
- Print test copy of workbook
- Investigate printing options and have small amount print
- Choose compelling name for free coaching session
- Add opt-in box to website header
- Add additional security/backup to website
- Add additional analytics code to website
- Add payment module to website
- Create new website with squeeze page
- Film short video for squeeze page
- Add 5 part freebie course to aWeber
- Add book sale to aWeber
- Add free coaching session to aWeber
- Finish elevator speech
- Develop free coaching session coupon for attendees at conference
- Keep blog posts are up to date — Done
Daily
- Stretch and strengthen — Done
- Elliptical
- Daily walks (weather permitting) — Will be done later
- Update finances — Done
- Vitamins — Done
- Healthy snacks — So far today