Starting Out: Holding Yourself Accountable

If you want to succeed, it is more than buying a set of CD's, or listening to the latest guru about what the easiest ways to make it in this business.  The top item that is required, and the only thing that really matters, is that you hold yourself accountable!

If you have put together your plan for your business, then you know what is required of you to succeed.  The reason I say your plan and your business is because everyone is different.  Different ideas about the type of business you may start, different markets, different funding, different levels of experiences, etc.  But, what we all have in common, is that it requires work.  It requires weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.  It requires extra work hours, long days, weekends packed full of meetings, and more.  

So what is a great way to stay focused and hold yourself accountable?  Hold a weekly status meeting.

Your business is just you, and you are CEO and CFO, and Acquisition Manager and Sales Manager?  You should certainly hold a weekly meeting.  Why, you ask, if it is just you should you hold a weekly meeting?  Because you need to have a report from each of the "yous" in order to know what is needed for the week.  You need to know weekly what the top priorities are, and how you will achieve them.  You need to know what you stand for the wider range goals (monthly and yearly) so that you can make adjustments.

All of these items come from the weekly meeting.  No matter if it is yourself, doing all the work on your own as you start off, or if it is you and your significant other working in a small bedroom in your basement.  Hold a weekly meeting, and do so seriously.  I, like a few others with whom I work, love white boards.  These are great.  Put one up in your office that is just for your goals, and weekly meetings.  

Some may think, "why should I hold a weekly meeting, as I can track all of this as I go".  Holding the weekly meeting will help hold yourself accountable for your plan and objectives.  As well, getting into the habit of weekly status meetings will pay off once you have a staff or additional partners on board helping you with your business.  

This may not be the only item required to correctly hold yourself accountable to your plan, but its a great start for that goal.  So, every Monday morning, brew yourself a coffee, meeting in the "conference room" (wherever you conduct your business at home or office), and start your meeting on time (put this on every calendar, and don't skip your meetings).  Go through your plan, and ask yourself questions about the good and bad.  Why haven't you had your goal number of closes?  What can be done this week to change that?

Be honest with yourself with these meetings.  If you are hitting your numbers, great!  But ask yourself if you should increase you goals and objectives.  Look over your financial reporting, and ask yourself are there ways to improve your bottom line.  During this meeting, you want to challenge yourself (and those that might be in the meeting) to be better.  To start the week off well, and to see success.

It may seem silly at first, holding your meeting by yourself.  I would even venture to suggest you speak out loud to yourself when you ask questions (give a heads up that this is what you intend to do in your meetings so your significant others don't think you finally cracked under the pressure).  

I'm wishing everyone well as the new week is upon us, and I hope you all have a successful Monday morning meeting!