Comments on: Who’s Holding You Accountable?

By: Pete Savage, Editor

Pete Savage, Editor — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:16:56 +0000

Rebecca and Jean – thanks for your comments here!

Penny – way to go, enlisting the help of your spouse

Ed – I’m glad to know that embarrassing me sets just the right tone for your week, you sonova….

Dava – I had never looked at it from that angle… you’re right, it CAN get messy when two are trying to reach the SAME goal and both fall short. However, breaking a common goal down into individual milestones (ones that each partner is uniquely responsible for) is a good way around that. Ed and Steve and I did that this past summer as we co-wrote a book, and it worked beautifully.

By: dava

dava — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:32:55 +0000

I think this works best the way you are doing it, Pete, rather than with both partners trying to reach the same goal. In my experience, both partners mess up and so neither feels too bad telling the other. Then, it’s tough to get back on track!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:33 +0000

I hold myself accountable because there’s no one else to hold me accountable. It’s good to have an accountability partner to keep you on track.

My deadline for a TV screenplay I’m writing is Dec. 31, 2009, and I shall meet or exceed it. I decided to write an eBook for one of my life coaching sites and committed to writing two chapters per day.

By: Ed Gandia, Editor

Ed Gandia, Editor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:29:13 +0000

Pete – So glad you’ve accomplished your goal already. Means I don’t have to embarrass you with tough questions come Monday morning.

Well, come to think of it, I’ll try to embarrass you anyway.

Penny – I do think it’s the embarrassment of having to say “no.” Doing it once or twice won’t kill you. But the third or fourth time you have to tell your spouse (or your accountability partner) that you haven’t accomplished that task, then you start looking like a flake. And the last thing most of us want to be called is “flake.” (Actually, “dweeb” and “freak” are also pretty bad!)

By: Jean Gogolin

Jean Gogolin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:43:11 +0000

The entire Weight Watchers empire is built on this principal. There it’s weighing in every week.

By: Penny Feigel, IAC-EZ

Penny Feigel, IAC-EZ — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:23:11 +0000

This works! With most business tasks, there are due dates and time frames and I think our minds adjust well to that… so, when it comes to those things that aren’t “due” we tend to put them off. I usually tell my husband, “I HAVE to have this done by that day” and he will ask (very nicely).. did you get that finished? Not that it would matter one way or the other, but I do think it helps to keep on track. I think it would be the embarrassment of having to say “no”. Although, I hadn’t really thought of it as an accountability partner, just a reminder.. it is effective.