“What’s wrong with me?”

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”

“Will I ever be able to grow my business like other entrepreneurs do?”

Do any of those statements sound familiar?

If you find yourself thinking similar thoughts, I’ve got good news for you: There’s nothing wrong with you, you are cut out for this, and you are not doomed to fail.

You’re also not alone. Some of the most ambitious, bright, and capable entrepreneurs I’ve met struggle with sticking to their action plans.

We’ve been talking the past few weeks about setting realistic, measurable goals for 2018. And now that we are coming up on the end of January, I hope that you can say that you have a clear road map and you’re committed to meeting your goals.

You know what you want: more referrals, more prospects, and more sales!

The question is how. How will you avoid falling off track and into the same habits and routines that held you back from reaching your goals last year?

When entrepre

neurs feel themselves slipping into old habits or failing to reach the targets they set for themselves, self-doubt kicks in. They often start asking questions like the ones above.

However, the reality is, they don’t need to question their willpower, skills, or character. The puzzle piece holding back their business growth is accountability.

Is Lack of Accountability Stifling Your Business Growth?

Unless you have a business partner, as an entrepreneur you operate solo. That means that unlike your friends and family with traditional jobs, you don’t work under the watchful eye of a boss or manager who monitors your progress and performance.

This freedom and independence is part of what attracts people to start their own business, but it can come at a cost.

When no one is looking over your shoulder, it’s easier to be lenient with yourself and fall off track.

Here’s an example that might strike a chord with you. You’re committed to making 10 sales calls every morning. But after you sit down at your desk to work and make two calls that don’t pan out, it’s tempting to procrastinate pushing forward. “I’ll get to it later,” you tell yourself.

After all, you have a ton of emails to tackle, errands to run, and a new project that seems like more fun to work on. So by the end of the day, those calls aren’t made. And the following morning, it’s even harder to get back to the routine of making 10 calls.

When you’re only accountable to yourself, it’s easy to fall off track.

What is Accountability?

Accountability is when you’re expected or required to justify your actions and choices to another person or group.

“Accountability separates the wishers in life from the action takers that care enough about their future to account for their daily actions.”

Now I know you are not a wisher. You are an action taker.

Just like many of the most successful entrepreneurs, you might need to make accountability part of your weekly routine to achieve your goals.

The easiest and most successful method to build in accountability is to arrange to work with an accountability partner.

Building a relationship with an accountability partner – a mentor, coach, colleague, or business strategist you respect and trust – involves committing to check in and provide honest updates on your progress and performance (or lack thereof).

Accountability partners are there to make sure you do what you say you’re going to do. Their role becomes even more critical when you find yourself facing obstacles. That’s when you tend to get discouraged and struggle to fulfill your daily and weekly commitments. Accountability partners keep you on track when your self-confidence and drive ebbs and flows.

Adding Accountability to Your Action Plan

January of 2018 is coming to a close, and as the saying goes, “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

It’s time to ask yourself: Am I struggling to stay committed to my action plan?

If the answer is yes, then accountability may be a critical missing ingredient in your business.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I hold entrepreneurs accountable to accomplish the daily, weekly, monthly, and annual tasks that empower them to reach their goals. By touching base regularly and giving constructive feedback based on decades of direct sales and business development experience, I help keep them honest and laser focused.

Don’t let a lack of accountability hold you back from building a Legacy Business. To “Double Plus” your income this year, contact me today.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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