Dear Doctor:
This is a very important time of year. Besides completing this year’s commitments, it’s time to begin planning next year – please set your goals by October 1, to give your mind time to work on them. We’ll talk more about that, but for now, let’s ask a more basic question – how do you get yourself to do what you need to do?
Let’s face it – many of us don’t take action as quickly or as thoroughly as we need to. It doesn’t make us bad people – but it does rob us of results we could accomplish, if only we could get ourselves to raise our standards and meet them. Here’s a valuable tool that will help you stay engaged and effective, called “The Four Rules of Accountability.”
The First Rule of Accountability is… the buck stops here. Recognizing and accepting your full personal responsibility is a necessary precondition of accountability. “If it is to be, it is up to me” is the motto – decide that you will do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, until it’s done.
The Second Rule of Accountability is… we do what we do because we want to or because we have to. As Tony Robbins teaches, learning to use the impact of pleasurable benefits and painful consequences gives you leverage to cause yourself to do what needs to be done. Sometimes, you’ll have to put off a present pleasure for a future one, or endure a current pain for future gain. Proper application of this rule helps you motivate yourself, as you weather the rough times and enjoy the good ones.
The Third Rule of Accountability is… your word is your bond. Starting with your word to yourself, and extending to your word to others, you must exemplify the integrity that underlies this rule. Your self esteem is reflected in your consistency in honoring your word – if you say you’ll do it, do it.
And finally, the Fourth Rule of Accountability is… success is right now. Without the willingness to take swift and massive action, the other rules won’t get you there. Proactivity, with confidence, positive expectancy, and full investment, are the connectors that breathe life into your dreams.
This year is already a reflection of the degree to which you’ve held yourself accountable. How did you do? Well, it’s not over – work to bring your efforts into focus to finish the year strong. And for next year – start thinking about your goals and dreams, and what it will take to keep yourself on track to achieve them.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle PS The Masters Circle SuperConference features the best speakers in chiropractic – for more information or to register, call 800-451-4514, or visit themasterscircle.com.
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