The final trick to being successful is being accountable for what you do, what you say, and how you bring your dream to its fruition. You can’t just be going off in different directions. A good plan has certain benchmarks or goals that must be met. Being responsible for what has to be done means you know the seriousness of accountability.
Being accountable means answerable, beholden, responsible, and obliged. Thus, you are answerable to yourself and others who believe in you. You are beholden to those that make the journey with you. You are responsible to yourself and responsible for others to do the very best you can do and deliver the product you promised. You are obliged to complete the journey.
Accountability is what brings the dream together. Accountability becomes more important when you ask others to join in with you to make the dream happen. The pressure to succeed is accountability to your dream. I think what makes most people succeed is they feel a personal sense of accountability to win, to succeed, and to go beyond the wildest of hopes.
Accountability for all that you do and all that you say will be delivered if you do not deviate from your values, your vision, your mission or your plan. You absolutely cannot leap off the cliff unless you are willing to bear the burden of accountability.
Here is the tricky part – failure is not failure to be accountable. We have seen many people fail but they tried their best and they held themselves accountable even for their failures. It is when you deny your part in the success or failure of a dream that you are you doomed from the start.
At all times in your journey you must be responsible for your actions and willing to accept the consequence of the actions. I will take a person who fails but understands the accountability for failure over a success who isn’t willing to be held accountable. The latter will never make it long term. Mistakes will happen – that is why there are erasers on the ends of pencils.
A willingness to be held accountable indicates strength of character that cannot be taught. You want to build a dream that withstands the test of time. Accountability in all phases of your journey will get you there. But the people you take along on this journey must also be willing to be accountable and responsible for their actions in allowing you to succeed.
When all else is said and done, you and you alone are accountable for your success. No one made you dream the dream or live the dream. We have a belief that accountability is what makes you succeed even when you fail. It is a mark of character to hold yourself accountable for what you do and what you say and thus I would caution you to be willing to be held to the standard of accountability.
About the Author
Owls were considered creatures of wisdom and Dave Favor and Cheryl Leone are no exception as they write as The Wise Owls. With almost a century of experience together in business and life mentoring, Dave and Cheryl bring a new thought process to owning a business and owning your life. Together they live in Raleigh, North Carolina, and through their parent company own Catalyst Group, Inc., home of Wise Business Leader. Watch for the newest book Gone for The Gold: Self-evident truths for living and working coming soon. Questions? Email the Wise Business Leader (a.k.a. Dave Favor).
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