| The tide's coming in, fast. Your kayak is there on | | | | accountability is 'internal,' where you have |
| the sand, starting to get gently nudged. | | | | compassionate support to face the tide. |
| Meanwhile you're flat out on a beach towel. Hot | | | | Hmmm... seems kind of confusing, internal, |
| sun. Cool breeze. Iced tea. Are you going to get | | | | external, compassionate support, rising tide. How |
| up in time to save your kayak from floating out | | | | does it really work? |
| to sea? | | | | Keys to Compassionate Accountability |
| Your business may be calling, all kinds of | | | | * External means committing so they are |
| important things to get done. But who can lift a | | | | counting on you. |
| finger when the sun is so bright? | | | | External accountability is when you set a deadline, |
| Sipping iced tea is just like checking email. | | | | and announce it to the world. You pre-sell your |
| If you checked email 1000 times yesterday, | | | | book, and people are expecting it by a certain |
| you're just as likely to check email 1000 times | | | | date. You take out a business loan that comes |
| today. And not get to that really important | | | | due in 18 months. |
| project that's going to really help your business | | | | Your clients are counting on you, or the person or |
| set sail. | | | | institution that invested in you is counting on |
| What's going to make you get to it? Well, if sand | | | | getting their money back. Either way, people see |
| blew in your face and your bills weren't going to | | | | you are the expert, the provider, and the one |
| get paid, that panic would probably have you | | | | who can make it happen. |
| jumping up to work on your business. | | | | This helps you rise to your potential. It squeezes |
| It's effective. But not very fun. And it takes you | | | | you, pushes you to perform, perhaps in ways |
| right out of your heart and inspiration. | | | | you never thought you could. |
| So why can't you just have gentle reminders? | | | | * Internal means you are counting on them. |
| The sun is crossing the sky. The breeze is picking | | | | Internal accountability is when you collect friends, |
| up. All of these signs are telling you the tide is | | | | colleagues, mastermind buddies, a coach or |
| coming in, and your kayak needs tending to. | | | | mentor to help bring a merciful attitude towards |
| But the sun is so warm, and you're so | | | | your goals. |
| comfortable... do you really need to get up... just... | | | | These are people you trust, who love and care |
| yet? | | | | for you. You can lean into them. If you get in a |
| Are panic and force the only way to get things | | | | jam, they aren't going to whip you; they are |
| done? | | | | going to help you navigate through. They'll help |
| Accountability replaces the rising tide. | | | | you hold to the external deadline when they |
| Instead of waiting for a force of nature to move | | | | believe you can do it. |
| you, you can create some support in moving | | | | And when they see you might drown, they'll help |
| yourself. And it involves creating accountability. | | | | you come up with a merciful alternative- like |
| Unfortunately, accountability is a dirty word if you | | | | extending your deadline. |
| have a tendency to be like a drill sergeant, | | | | Adversity can bring the best out in you. It will |
| whipping yourself toward your goals. This is even | | | | wake you up, get you off your beach blanket, |
| harsher than facing the rising tide. | | | | and bring your business to safety- paddling it |
| Except this time it's self-imposed. So, instead of | | | | towards whatever goals you've set for yourself. |
| responding, you ignore it, or fight it. Either way, it's | | | | And, if you also have internal accountability, it |
| easy to forget in the moment -why- you're | | | | means you're never alone at sea. Use both |
| working toward some deadline or other. | | | | internal and external accountability, and you'll get |
| You need two types of accountability. | | | | your business to safety, far ahead of the rising |
| The first accountability is 'external' where you | | | | tide. |
| create a rising tide for yourself. And the second | | | | |