Keeping accountable
How's your motivation to get tasks done?
I'm really enjoying getting my hypnotherapy business off the ground. It's an exciting experience, but sometimes a lonely one - after all, there is only me to rely on to make things work. One of the biggest challenges is staying focused and motivating myself to get things done, especially with all the current challenges of working from home, homeschooling the kids etc.
Luckily, I am doing this at the same time as many of the almost 100 people around the world who undertook the same training as me at the Jacquin Hypnosis Academy.
During our training we become an incredibly close and supportive community, and this has continued as we each go our separate ways to launch our own businesses. Some of us have paired up as accountability partners - a relationship that allows you to discuss goals and then motivate and encourage each other to achieve them by offering a supportive presence. It's a way of ensuring you stay committed and focused, and provides a greater incentive to get things done.
My accountability partner is Elia, a fellow student from the course. We hit it off straight away and quickly became firm friends - it was clear early on that we shared dreams and values, as well as a slightly warped sense of humour and an intense dislike of mushrooms. Elia lives in Italy, I'm here in the UK. But thanks to technology the world has become a much smaller place in this year of no travel, so when the course finished we both knew we would be the perfect partners in keeping each other accountable.
It's a daily commitment - it wouldn't work if we weren't 100% there for each other. We exchange messages first thing in the morning with a list of goals we want to achieve for the day. We try to include some self-care or 'me time' in that list, too - it isn't always all business-related. Then at the end of the day we compare notes - how did we get on, what did we achieve? We motivate each other, encourage each other, comiserate when things are not going to plan. We feel each other's pain and celebrate each other's successes.
Each week we meet online - this gives us a chance to discuss our plans and goals in more detail. And although our business models are different our values are the same - we both want to make a difference in the world, and to help others lead happier, more fulfilled lives.
Knowing there is somebody else facing similar challenges to me is really reassuring. I know Elia will encourage, motivate and inspire me, and I will do the same for him. We'll ensure we are both working to our highest potential. We'll bounce ideas off each other. And of course, we are both hypnotists, so we have the practical tools to support each other when things get tough.
When it comes to following our dreams and goals we all need someone in our corner, whether we are hoping to achieve something professionally or personally. Without that support it would be easy to procrastinate or get discouraged, demotivated or lazy. Having an accountability partner has really helped me stay on track with what I need to achieve, and it's something anyone can do.
What are your goals for the coming year - and who will keep you accountable?
