I joined a group this past week called Brainstorm Road. You had to get an invite to join and I was lucky enough to receive one. Brainstorm Road is an online accountability & feedback group for creatives who are trying to build something to share with the world. There are writers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and even quilters in this group — anyone with a dream they want to make a reality. It’s similar to the Writing in Community group I participated in last year. Back then, I found that having a group of people to share my work greatly increased my output. And I owed it all to accountability.
Accountability
I’ve learned something about myself in the past few years. If I have a team that’s excited to collaborate on something, I tend to stay engaged and focused. If it’s just me, trying to move a personal goal forward, I fail every single time. I need that external accountability and I’m not the only one. The American Society of Training & Development found that people are 65% more likely to achieve a goal after committing to another person. That success rate goes to 95% if you meet with an accountability partner on a regular basis.
Y Combinator, the famous tech accelerator out of Silicon Valley highly recommends entrepreneurs participate in the accelerator only if they have found a co-founder. Why? Because partners help you get through some of the toughest phases of a prolonged project. When you’re feeling hopeless, chances are, they’re not and vice versa.
Our advice remains that one-person startups are tough and you’re more likely to succeed with a co-founder.
Y Combinator
When Jesse Huth and I started the agile consultancy, O2 Agility, I noticed that it was a lot easier (and more fun!) to build the company with him. Jesse would have loads of ideas and energy around some things, and I would have energy around others. Together, we made a great team and helped many companies run amazing self-selection events.
Where to Find Accountability
Accountability can come from anywhere. I run every Sunday morning, rarely skipping Sundays even in the dead of winter. Why? Because I have a running buddy who I enjoy seeing week after week! Finding a group of peers that meet regularly is a great first step towards building accountability. I often look for new groups on Facebook, Meetup.com, or LinkedIn. Mastermind groups, formal associations, gyms, or anything else that meets once a week and where people will miss you if you don’t show up to participate can add accountability to your life.
You can also simply ask someone you already know to act as an accountability buddy. Friends, family, teachers, are all usually happy to contribute to your success. Be very clear with them that you want them to check-in with you each week and pick someone you know is responsible enough to actually do it.
I’ve also had a life coach for the past two years who has been instrumental in helping me push some of my goals forward. Since I’ve been meeting with him regularly, I’ve achieved quite a number of those life goals. I’ve started my book, run a marathon, and become the Vice President of Software Development at Singlewire Software. Though coaches can be expensive, they are worth every penny. You’re not actually paying for the coach, you’re paying to realize your dreams. Brandon Lambert has been my coach for many years and is currently taking new clients. My husband, Graham Callis, is also a damn good life coach and is training for his certification right now. He has a few slots remaining for coachees.
Can’t find an accountability buddy? You can put your own money on the line and make a bet with yourself on sites like stickK.com or healthywage.com. Loss aversion is a powerful force. We humans tend to do everything we can to avoid the pain of losing money. So saying you’ll do something and putting money on the line may provide just the right amount of accountability for you.
Brainstorm Road
I’m happy to be part of Brainstorm Road this round and it’s already making a difference in my life. I was traveling this weekend and still made sure to stop and write a bit. Why? Because I knew that group would be expecting it! If you’re interested in Brainstorm Road, it is sure to be a growing community in the years to come. You can get on their waitlist here.
If there’s something you’re dreaming of accomplishing this year, make a plan, and find some way to add a little accountability into your life. Feel free to post your plans below. I’ll be happy to be your online accountability buddy.