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One Simple Trick To Push Forward When You’re Ready To Quit

Do you have problems completing tasks?

Have you been having trouble sticking to your budget?

Have you set goals before and never even gotten started?

Want a way to fix these problems?

Does this sound like a cheesy infomercial so far? Hopefully you said YES to the last one!

If you haven’t ever had the problems above then you are probably very driven, but not everyone can say the same thing. If you fall into the latter group keep reading.

Deciding you actually want to complete whatever it is that you have been putting off is the first step, but now that you’ve done that what is next?

Get An Accountability Partner

What is an accountability partner? They are someone (or something) that will help to keep you accountable for reaching your goals, completing your tasks, sticking to your budget or anything else you want to do.

The idea is by telling someone what you want to accomplish you will feel like you owe it to that person (in addition to just yourself) to finish the job.

When you do complete your goal, you get to tell them about your success. Basically, in addition to the great feeling of accomplishing your task you also get the chance to share that feeling with someone else!

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I hate the most is letting someone down. When you told your accountability partner about your goal, that means someone else is interested in you completing your goal.

If you don’t complete your goal, you’d likely feel like you’ve let them down if you didn’t finish.

How To Find An Accountability Partner

So, now that you know about what an accountability partner is you may be asking “How can I find one?”. Chances are they could be sitting in the same room as you right now. A good accountability partner will be someone who you interact with often.

It helps if they are supportive of what they will be holding you accountable for and you are comfortable talking to them about the goal you are trying to reach. So who could this person be? Here are some ideas:

  • Your best friend
  • Your spouse, significant other, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.
  • Your parents
  • Your kids
  • Your online blog community (thanks guys!)

Be careful who you pick and which of your goals you ask them to help you with. It probably wouldn’t be a great idea to have your coworker or boss be your accountability partner if you really want to find a new job.

Think you have an idea for who you would like to be your accountability partner? Great! Go talk to them as soon as you can.

Ask if they would mind helping you with something and explain to them that you would like an accountability partner for whatever goal you are trying to accomplish.

If they agree to help you, figure out how often you should update them or how often they should ask  you for an update. The only thing left now is to go get started. What are you waiting for?

If you know someone who is about to embark on the process of completing a difficult goal, do them a favor and share this post with them. It only takes a quick second to email this article, and it could change that person’s life!

Do you have an accountability partner? If so, how has it worked out for you? Let me know in the comments!

This is an updated article. It was originally published on May 4th, 2012.

Michelle

Saturday 14th of December 2013

My blogging peeps are my accountability partners right now! Everyone else is tired of my sh$t...I love this post! I have accomplished more this past year than I have for a number of years.

Lance Cothern

Saturday 14th of December 2013

Accountability partners really do help out in the long run!

Squirrelers

Tuesday 12th of November 2013

That has helped me in the past, particularly in school. Having someone super intense stay on me for being prepared for a big exam was an eye opener for me. Meaning, left to my own devices, I could either succeed if I was highly interested, or do "fine" if not interested. It's the accountability partner that can push someone when there just isn't that intrinsic motivation for a particular task or project. At least with me....

Lance Cothern

Tuesday 12th of November 2013

I don't think you're alone, and that is exactly why I wrote this post! Thanks for sharing Squirrelers!

Terry @EasyFinancialTips

Monday 11th of November 2013

Having an accountability partner is especially helpful when you serve as their accountability partner in return! This symbiotic relationship does not allow either one of you to fail, and it's great to have someone to enjoy the feelings of accomplishment with!

MakintheBacon

Sunday 10th of November 2013

When I first read the word accountability partner, it made me think of a workout buddy. I don't have an accountability partner or a workout buddy to help me with my goals, but I find writing my goals and setting deadlines as to when they should be met makes me accountable for them.

GetRichWithMe

Sunday 10th of November 2013

An accountability partner is a great idea - its very difficult to see things through without the moral support of your friends and peers. Changing your ingrained habits ISNT easy