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Change is inevitable.

And it’s often scary.

But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be a good thing when you’re consciously moving toward something you really want.

I am amazed when I think back to who I was in 2006 when I began my journey from being an attorney to where I am today. The transformations have been incredible.

But they don’t happen by accident; they happen by design.

Whenever I want to make a big change, I take some time to get clear on what I want.

Then, I study every day and apply what I learn to grow into the person I want to be.

And every time I need to step out and do things that scare me (which is often), I remind myself of the commitment I made to change my life.

Of course, it would have been a lot easier to reject my calling and live out my days as a lawyer. But my life would have been far less fulfilling.

I imagine you’ve faced similar struggles in your life.

Gone too soon?

If you’ve ever fallen short of reaching a dream, remember this…

Regardless of what has happened in the past, your future is a blank canvas with limitless possibilities. It’s waiting for you to pick up a brush and create a magnificent masterpiece that is your life.

However, to create a masterpiece, you must be more than interested in making a change.

People who are interested in something will do it when it’s convenient. However, people who are committed will do it no matter what.

Getting excited about a goal or dream is easy. But maintaining enthusiasm and commitment over the long haul requires discipline. You’ve got to make a conscious, active effort to transform that motivation into tangible results.

How to forge ahead through daily challenges

So, what do you do when you have an inspiring idea, but you’re not sure how to bring it to life?

First, you study and visualize what you want.

Second, you map out a plan for getting you to where you want to go.

And third, you get an accountability partner.

Getting an accountability partner is important because procrastination is largely responsible for why we don’t follow through on our dreams and goals. Bob says, “Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result.”

Being accountable to someone helps you keep your “eyes on the prize” as you take necessary steps to move toward your dreams.

A good accountability partner will…

• Inspire you to make headway in the face of roadblocks and time zappers.

• Help ensure you’re on the right path.

• Offer positive encouragement to inspire and stimulate you to move forward.

• Provide a different perspective and offer creativity and brainstorming to solve a problem.

• Offer tough love, when necessary, to keep you from getting off track

At the end of the day, just knowing that someone will ask you how you’re doing on what you committed to do can be the extra bit of motivation you need to step out and do the things that scare you.

Who’s right for you?

You’re going to form a relationship with this person. So, just like you would when choosing a friend, choose your accountability partner with care.

Do your best to pair up with the kind of person that you tend to connect with naturally. If you feel comfortable with each other, you’ll get more out of the relationship because it will be easier for you to communicate openly and effortlessly.

Another critical thing to look for is commitment. You will serve jointly as each other’s accountability partner, so look for someone as committed to his or her success as you are to yours. Without commitment, the relationship will lose its value.

An ideal place to find a like-minded accountability partner is in a community that is committed to growth and success, such as the one in the Proctor Gallagher Inner Circle.

If you are not familiar with this unique community, you can get more information about it here.

Getting started

For you and your partner to get the most from your accountability arrangement, create a framework that will help you meet your objectives.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Decide When You Will Talk. Figure out a good day and time that works for both of you and stick with it. I recommend coming up with a “standing time” each week, so you’ll both be less likely to forget or miss the appointment.

To build rapport and maintain enthusiasm, you might also check in with each other via email each day, especially in the relationship’s early stages.

• Show Up. Honor your appointments with each other. Commit from the start that you will do everything you can to stick with the schedule, so you don’t have to postpone or cancel calls.

• Eliminate Distractions. Find a quiet, distraction-free place to conduct the call. Be present for your partner and expect the same from them.

• Set an Agenda. Sticking to a plan keeps the call focused and allows you to finish on time.

Some things you might include:

1. A status update, including actions you each committed to during the last session and a celebration of successes and achievements.

2. Discussing challenges or issues concerning your commitments, goals, and objectives

3. Delineating commitments and action steps to be completed before the next call.

Split the meeting time as evenly as possible between each of you. Some people find it helpful to dedicate the first half of the call to one person and the second half to the other.

• Be Frank and Direct. The only way you will get real value out of this relationship is by counting on each other to be upfront and honest. So, if you think the person is making excuses, making a poor choice, or doing the wrong thing, say so.

On the other hand, you need to be willing to hear hard truths from your partner. A healthy relationship can be as or more important than sharing your goals.

Your chances of success go way up

Successful people very often get an accountability partner to help them stay on track with their goals. Bob and I are accountability partners, and it makes a huge difference in our lives.

If you have or have had an accountability partner, please tell us about your experiences below.

If you don’t have a partner and don’t know anyone who’s a good fit for you, I recommend becoming part of our Inner Circle. You’ll find a supportive community that will help you close the gap between your intentions and results. It will also help you improve your study habits—step one for achieving your goals. You can get more details here.

Also, get the download below for more tips on how to hold yourself accountable to your goals so you can get where you want to go faster.

To more and better,

Sandy Gallagher

[Tweet “How to stay on track with your goals: https://bit.ly/2Pe9s6q #bobproctor”]

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