Screw New Years Resolutions: An Accountability Buddy Can Change Your Life

I'm always excited for a New Year. It's a shot at redemption — an opportunity to build upon, repair, or better yourself from last year — a time to reflect on what went right — and, heaven forbid, all that went wrong.

It's also a time for grandeur and overly ambitious New Year's resolutions that feel more like a sacrifice than salvation, albeit made with great intention that, according to Inc., sees more than 80% of us fail. In spectacular fashion with the majority giving into temptation before January closes out. 

Why?

My guess would be it's because we try to strip ourselves entirely of all vices that, if used in moderation, are actually good for us. But really, who the fuck cares? A more important question you might ask yourself is, "what can I do to tip the odds in my favour to help ensure I achieve my goals this year?"

Now we're talking. Research cites the return on investment from hiring a coach is somewhere between 500 to 700 percent. Pretty astonishing numbers regardless of how you chop them up. 

There are many layers to the client work I do. One of the most important elements is accountability — making sure they stay on track and move at an appropriate pace towards their goal. Usually, the elimination of panic attacks or a far better grasp on their anxiety, so they no longer live in despair. 

An accountability buddy can change your life.

The good news is, you don't necessarily have to pay someone to hold you accountable to your goals. You can find yourself an accountability buddy — someone with a similar ambition, motivation, and desire as yourself. You then form an accountability tag team where you both commit to regular check-ins, propping each other up and ensuring progress is constantly made towards the said goal. 

"The American Society of Training and Development found that people are 65 percent likely to meet a goal after committing to another person. Their chances of success increase to 95 percent when they build in ongoing meetings with their partners to check in on their progress."

Again, the numbers are astonishing. 

Allow me to share an example of my own failings without accountability:

Last year, one of my goals was to write a book. I had no accountability partner. I think I spent all but two hours realising this goal. I procrastinated. Because, quite frankly, how it might be received — not to mention, having to sit down to write it — scares the crap out of me. Even if it were to be a success.

A more disciplined person can hold themselves accountable. But what if you lack that discipline? What if you doubt you will achieve your desired results? And what if you are prone to procrastination as you sit on your dreams, waiting for the stroke of luck you only get when a bird shits on you from the heavens above?

You get yourself an accountability buddy. 

Pearson's law states that "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported back, the rate of improvement accelerates."

Allow me to share an example of a success I had with accountability:

When Georg approached me to do the anxiety support summit, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But it had all the ingredients you might look for — a challenge, could potentially help many people, an opportunity for growth, and something to look back and be proud of. So I went all in. 

I still had all the same fears if I were to sit down and write my book. But I had accountability. It was an equal partnership. I had my role. Georg had his. And I sure as shit didn't want to let him down. Even more so than myself. So I worked my ass off to the very best job I could. 

Frankly, it was so fucking hard to orchestrate and put it all together and conduct all the interviews that I thought, at times, I was doing an awful job. If I were going solo, I would have almost certainly quit after the 10th rejection. But Georg kept lifting me up, giving me pep talks, and driving me on.  

Meanwhile, Georg was looking on at me, seeing my efforts, and working his ass off because he had similar concerns and didn't want to let me down. We were both clueless that we were doing so much to help each other achieve our goals. 

I loved working on that project with Georg. While it was a partnership, he was everything I could ever ask for in an accountability partner. I just didn't realise it at the time. 

One does not just choose an accountability partner.

Most of us are great at letting ourselves down, but we don't ever want to let someone else down. You'll very likely be able to message a mate and ask them to be your accountability partner today, and they'll say yes, and do fuck all, expecting you to do all the heavy lifting. 

It would appear to be imperative to find someone with similar goals and motivations as yourself. Even better if you can find someone less prone to procrastination. Someone who is going to call you on your shit when they see you are procrastinating by focussing your efforts on the 80% that doesn't matter — Hello, Nicky — as opposed to the 20% that will take you towards achieving your goals of a better future sooner rather than later. 

You need to enlist someone, who first and foremost, really wants to see you succeed and reach your goals. Irrespective of what your goals are. You don't need me to tell you there are many out there that don't want to see you succeed. Hell, there are many who don't even want to see you happy because they're not happy themselves. Don't let them drag you down. 

Where do you need the most help?

An accountability buddy can greatly enhance your chance of success in any aspect of life. It doesn't matter if it's for business, writing, weight loss, socialising, fun, relaxation, health, whatever. And you do not have to be working together on the same project. 

It is an equal partnership. Once you know your top priority, you just need to find your accountability buddy and set the parameters. Agree to regular check-ins where you monitor and track your progress, and establish mini-goals to hit along the way to reaching your ultimate goal. 

And be there for one another, supporting as best you can while massively enhancing the odds of you both having a year to look back on and be proud of. All the while setting yourself up for a brighter future.

The end.