Accountable - to WHOM?

Are you Accountable (and to whom?)

https://www.success.com/10-steps-to-achieve-any-goal/

Ten Steps to reach ANY Goal

Okay, when I saw this article - TEN STEPS to Reach ANY goal I figured I better look at it.

The article suggests these are “Oz” factors - like in the Wizard of Oz.

From the article,

“All of the main characters are thrust into despairing circumstances beyond their control. A tornado rips Dorothy from her Kansas farm and hurls her against her will to a strange fantasy world. The Scarecrow lives a stagnant life amid corn and crows because his creator skimped on brains. The Tin Man is rusted in place, unable to act because he lacks the heart to move. And the lovable Cowardly Lion? He lacks courage and nerve, and therefore lives life well below his potential.”

It’s not my fault that I am not the president of my company.  You see <excuse>.  I was pulled away from my life by a tornado (or lack of brains, or heart or courage).

Well - not really - YOU CAN’T let circumstances define who you are (or are not)!!!

Again, from the article,

“In other words, don’t place the hope of future success in the hands of some wizard’s wand. Relying on someone or something to save you only brings a sense of victimization that paralyzes your ability to think clearly, creatively, and quickly. Instead, take charge of shaping your own circumstances, and good, positive, game-changing things will begin to happen.

Let’s get started

-1 Redefine accountability

Okay, there are many times, that I have not liked ‘accountability’ - that I needed to report to somebody on what I am doing!  My academic friends will remember the various self-analysis reports.  My friends at Dakota State had to fill out a form called “Appendix H” (I think it got changed at some point, but my friend TF started to refer to it as “Preparation H” (for the hemorrhoid treatment - since this form was a (ahh) “pain in the ass”).  

The article uses this dictionary definition of accountability:

“Subject to having to report, explain, or justify; being answerable, responsible.”.

So, generally, the thought is that some bureaucrat somewhere in the company structure decided that we needed to fill out paperwork to justify ourselves and our work.

BUT …

The article suggests that being accountable is necessary - “ You must view your accountability as a gift to yourself, a voluntary mindset to ensure success, not something you’re force-feeding yourself even though you hate it. “

If I am going to be a success - I MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE to myself and to my bosses, and ultimately ACCOUNTABLE to God.  Romans 14:12 “So, each one of us will give an account of himself to God”.  

Have I slacked off?  Have I wasted my time that I could have used to reach my goal?  Did I play too many computer games - when I could have been writing my blog!!  Did I watch too much television when I should have been doing planks and sit-ups to work on my weak abdominal muscles?”

At some point - even if I’m my own boss - I have to be accountable to MYSELF.  It wasn’t the tornado or lack of brains, heart, or courage that kept me from success!!

-2 Think as if your life depended on it!!!

Huh?  I think a lot and my life doesn’t depend on it (or does it?)

Hey - my goal of having a flat belly is just out of my control.  You know my parents were flabby and that is my genetics - I just can’t have a flat belly.  You know, I just can’t learn calculus - I don’t have the brain for it.  I just can’t!!  It is out of my control!!

The article says “The goal you want to achieve or the problem you want to solve probably is not a life-or-death scenario, but many creative solutions come when you put everything on the line. While your life may not be at risk, your happiness and success are.”.

Do I want to stay in my dead-end job - when I COULD become more?  I could have worked harder in school!!  I could have worked harder on my job!!  I could have worked harder on my people skills to be a better teacher!!  I could have worked harder to be a better spouse!!!

Back to that statement again:  “YOUR HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS ARE DEPENDENT ON MY THINKING”!!  

(Aside, do you want to end up at age 75 saying “I really wanted to do XYZ with my life - and it just didn’t happen.  There were too many things against me that kept me back!!  Well, folks - at age 75, I’m going to be able to say “I DID IT!!!!” - and you know what “IT” is in my life!!)

What about you?

More tomorrow!!

Karen

(Aside - I walked 5.5 miles today.  I wanted to get to 7 miles.  As I was writing this, I decided I could and should get to 7 - so I went out and walked an additional mile-and-one-half.  I realize that I (too) fall short.  I talk about God at times.  Somehow I pictured being at God’s Judgement and he is asking me about my walking.  I said, “I walked 5.5 miles that day”.  God doesn’t say anything - but is looking at me.  He is still looking at me.  I started to cry “I guess I could have walked seven miles!” - at that, God smiled at me and says “Well done good and faithful servant”)