What do house cleaners and business coaches have in common? For me, they both provide accountability, but in very different ways. Let me explain, in hopes of inspiring you to recommit to any 2024 goals and resolutions!
Thursdays used to be our family’s ritual clean-up night. We would tidy up the house in preparation for our house cleaner’s Friday visits. Seems crazy, right? Clean up the house for the house cleaner? Actually, it makes good sense! While our house cleaner was a wonder and did more in hours than we can do in days, she can’t do it amongst clutter. So, we got the house in order ahead of time so she can help keep our home nicer than we ever could on our own.
In an indirect way, a house cleaner is a great accountability partner. Before she comes, we clean the house so her time (and our money) is spent efficiently while she is there. After she comes, the house is so sparkly that we want to keep it that way. This brief, hard work improves the cleanliness of our home even when she is not around because we want to stay accountable to her high-caliber work.
In a much more direct manner, I have had an amazing business coach as a professional accountability partner. Just like a house cleaning, a regular appointment was scheduled every two weeks. I knew that in order to make the most of our time together I must have my “house in order” so we can spend time on the important tasks at hand. For me, hiring help is not so much about having someone do it all for me, but rather help me achieve things at a greater level by keeping me accountable.
You don’t need to hire someone for accountability (although paying for help is a great motivator to remain accountable!). A friend, co-worker, or spouse can be there for you, either directly calling you out (like a business coach) or indirectly inspiring you towards improvement (like a house cleaner). Both approaches lead to effective accountability.
We are a month into the New Year. Have you found it hard to stick with any goals or resolutions you set for yourself in 2024? Find an accountability buddy to have greater consistency and follow-through!
-Matt Sundermier, Broker/Owner