How often do you say you’re going to do something, or for that matter, not do something and within a short period of time you forget you what you said?
This happens frequently with the goals we set. We say, “Today is the day! Today I will…”

• Not eat sugar
• Walk a mile first thing in the morning
• Call five prospects
• Clean out the junk drawer
• Be kinder to my children
• Put the first hour of my business day aside to work on a client proposal
• Write a blog post every day for the next three days

In reality, most of what we say we are going to do is what we’ve been tolerating. The change happens for a short period of time and then we move right back into our old behaviors. This is especially true if we conveniently avoid telling anyone about the change we want to make.
It’s easier to lie to ourselves if we keep our “today I will” goals to ourselves. We’ve tolerated something for so long we fail to realize just how much we continue to justify behaviors that sabotage our success.
One of the best ways to accomplish what you say you want is to have checks and balances to hold yourself accountable.
There are a few ways to do this. First, get really clear on what you are tolerating and why you must make a change. It usually takes more than just saying you want to make a change.
If you simply say you want to accomplish something, it’s likely you will buckle under because you don’t have enough leverage on yourself.
A strong point of leverage is to identify the big “why” of your outcome. Why do you want to give up sugar? Why do you want to walk a mile first thing in the morning? Why do you want to call five prospects every day? Why….. ( you fill in the blank)?
The next thing that assures you will stick with your goal is to have an accountability partner. It’s amazing how powerful this can be.
By having someone you check in with on a regular basis you tend to stick with things for a longer period of time.
However, you need to make sure your accountability partner is someone who is not going to listen to your excuses.
Often, your accountability partner can be a mentor or coach. This may require you pay for their guidance.
Something else that assures greater success in achieving your outcome is to write down what you want and track your progress. This allows you to measure your success.
If you don’t measure what you are doing how will you know exactly what your progress is? 
The main thing to do is get really honest with yourself. Quit justifying a behavior that no longer serves you. 
Look at your life on all levels; physically, professionally, emotionally and spiritually. Is it where you want it to be? Have you been blaming outside forces as to why you are where you’re at or have you been taking full responsibility for where your life is at?
With 2014 beyond the halfway mark, have you accomplished what you set out to accomplish this year? Will you achieve what you wanted by year’s end?
If yes, congratulations. You’re among a very small percentage of people who will do so. 
If not, what do you need to change to move closer to the outcome you set? 
Only you can know what the truth is. And only you can get completely honest with what needs to happen to live the life you know you are capable of. 
If it means enlisting the help of others, what will it take for you to finally do so? Isn’t it time to live fully and reach your greatest potential?
If not now, when? If not you, who?
Is there someone you know who would benefit from this post? Why not share it with them by clicking one of the share buttons below.