“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”
– Moliere
So, you’ve taken the time to understand your own interpretation of success, and you summoned up the determination to do something to make a difference. Now, how do you make sure you arrive at your destination? If success is the road and determination the engine, then accountability must be every nut and bolt that holds the whole contraption together.
Making yourself accountable for your goals is both motivating and terrifying. When your dreams were nothing more than a thought in your own mind, there was little fear of failure. As soon as you make clear your intention to those around you, you create an obligation for yourself. We live seemingly in an era of doors left open. What I mean is that most people never dare to close the door behind them – just in case they need to jump back through. The logic stands that you shouldn’t pen yourself into what may turn out poorly, but this thinking can be detrimental. In fact, it can even be more stressful than commitment.
Whenever we leave a chance to go back, our minds linger on the decision itself. Are we on the right path? Is this really going to succeed? Why bother trying in the first place? And so the option remains that we could always just go back the way we came. Now, I’m not recommending you curse your old boss out and walk away or get a permanent tattoo on your face, but, once you’ve made a good decision (no decision is perfect), it’s time to give it your all.
One of the most effective ways to lock-in to a decision, is to tell a friend. While most of us have an innate fear of failure, we can use this to our advantage as well. You said you were going to do it, right? You told me this was your vision for the future – what happened? When someone else knows what you plan to achieve, they’ll poke and prod you occasionally and as-needed to make sure you don’t stop moving.
At the end of the day, however, there is only one person that can make-or-break your chance at success: you. You can sing it aloud to the world or even go through with that face tattoo (though, please don’t), but it doesn’t make any difference if you’re not willing to hold yourself accountable. Ultimately, you need to resolve your mind of your decision and eliminate any doubts you may have. You need to honestly believe that your decision is final and move with purpose.
No result is guaranteed, and most paths aren’t fatal. Acceptance is a topic for another day, but just keep in mind that no decision will be perfect and no pursuit will be without its difficulties. Even if you believe you’ve found your calling or destiny in life, you have to expect to be challenged along the way. History remembers those that persevered in spite of adversity.
Thank you for your time.