Everyone breaks promises to themselves

Why? Because its too easy to make the promises when you know no-one is going to call you on them.

Come on. Have you done what you said you’d do?

If you work on your own, who is to know if nothing on your ‘to do’ list gets done?

You can procrastinate for as long as you like and no-one will be any the wiser.

Most business owners who talk about time management don’t really need help in managing their time.

They need someone to hold them to account for the results (or lack of) that they say they want to achieve in a certain time.
The thing that makes the biggest impact is when you agree what you’re going to do and comit to reporting in to somebody to tell them that you’ve done it.

Can you be accountable to yourself?

It’s hard. Usually because there are two people in this problem.

Future You wants things to be different so Present You makes promises.

The trouble is, Present You wants a quick fix, instant gratification, rewards right now.

Future You demands harder choices.

Before you make promises to Future You, answer this:

Why do you care?

When you care enough about Future You to stick to the promises you make, you’re more likey to swat away the temptations that Present You whispers in your ear.

But there’s an easier way.

Human beings aren’t built to work in isolation. We’re much more effective when someone sees what we do and says “Well done”

Get somebody who will hold you to account.

Make it someone who has no axe to grind, no hidden agenda and just wants to see you succeed.

Ask them to accept no excuses and to make sure you keep on track with what you say you’ll do.

It’s really important to choose the right person to do this. Too rigid and you’ll avoid them. Too soft and all you’ll get is sympathy which doesn;t really help.

Get the right person – or a group where you hold each other accountable – and it’ll make all the difference.

If you’d like me to be the person you talk about how to do what you say you want to do, get in touch!