Do you have GAS? Goal Accountability System

Have you ever gotten really excited about that million-dollar idea only to end up going nowhere? I’ve written about self-discipline in the past and know from personal experience that having an accountability system will increase the odds of achieving your goals.

Often times, the idea itself was not what had resulted in failure, but a lack of a systematic process to take that idea and turn it into a reality.

What I am about to share with (Goal Accountability System) will allow you to refuel your motivation and allow you to achieve extraordinary results that you did not know were possible.

The great thing about this process is that you can use it anywhere in your life that you choose. You don’t need a million-dollar idea, and you might have a different desired outcome, like losing weight.

For the purpose of this article, we will use weight loss as an example, but you can apply this same process for any type of goal.

The first part of the system is creating a well defined goal. A problem well stated is a problem half solved. We are going to take a simple ambiguous goal, the type that we are used to setting, and turn it into a clearly defined problem.

Set a specific goal. You cannot be ambiguous. If you tell yourself, “I am going to lose weight,” does that mean you lose 5 pounds, or do you lose 30 pounds? Your mind will probably end up giving you that satisfied feeling if you only lose 2 pounds, because that means you lost weight. Be specific. “I am going to lose 30 pounds.”

Give your goal a deadline. Human beings are procrastinators! If you say “I am going to lose 30 pounds” you can easily tell yourself that you are on the right track a year later and 10 pounds lighter, because you don’t have a finish line. At the same time, if you GAIN 10 pounds, you still have not technically missed your goal, because it will never come due.

Imagine if your boss said: “I’d like you to hand in that report sometime before you die.” Would you do it? Probably not. If you tell yourself “I am going to lose 30 pounds in 10 weeks” you add a bit more pressure on yourself and you force yourself into taking action.

Use Towards Motivation. There are two types of motivation. Towards Motivation, and Away From Motivation. Away From Motivation is the act of doing something for the sake of NOT doing, being, or feeling something else.

For example, If you tell yourself “I want to lose weight because I DON’T want to be fat,” your mind focuses on what you don’t want because the human nervous system cannot process a negative though without first focusing on what it is you don’t want.

Away From Motivation usually ends up in us doing just enough to not have that feeling. You might lose 15 pounds and feel ‘not fat,’ and that will end up keeping you satisfied enough, but not completely satisfied.

Instead, use Toward Motivation, as that will allow you to set a positive standard that you are continually trying to seek out and make better. “I am going to lose 30 pounds in 10 weeks so I can look great, be healthy, and feel more energetic.” Which sounds better to you?

Put yourself in the future, when you’ve achieved your goal. This is an exercise that you can use every day to help motivate you towards achieving your goal. Look at your calendar, and find out the exact date 10 weeks later. Close your eyes and tell yourself “Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complemented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I’ve always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight.” Imagine that picture in your head of that skinnier you, and associate yourself with that image as if you are seeing the world through your own eyes as people are complimenting you on the ‘new you.’ Take a moment to feel that excitement and energy. Smile. You will get there.

Write down your new goal from step 4 and display it where you can see it. Personally, I like sticky notes. I like to write my goals down and place them around my office, so I end up looking at them many times a day. There is also power when you put pen to paper as you are communicating with your mind on what you want to achieve.

So write down your goal, and make sure you place it somewhere it can be easily viewed at least once a day. Now, whenever you see your goal, you will be able to revision your experience from part 4 and it will help energize and excite you.

Find yourself an Accountability Partner. We all like to think that we can conquer goals on our own, but even in a soccer game, it takes a team to pass the ball across the field before it can reach the goal. I’ve been meeting with my accountability partner for 3.5 years and it’s been one of the best experiences I have had. Every week we meet and share what we got done and what we are working on in the upcoming week.

You have just concluded part I of the Goal Accountability System. Remember, ‘a problem well stated is a problem half solved.’ You might not have lost any weight yet (or whatever it is that you are trying to achieve) but you are already halfway there. Trust me.

In part II of the Goal Accountability System next week, I will show you how to pick all the right plays from your playbook so that you can take your newly defined goal and make it into a reality.

And if you don’t want to wait that long, you can join The Gathering today to establish your Goal Accountability System so you can receive support, guidance, accountability, and coaching to help you not only get started but to, more importantly, keep going.