Counting on me (and you)

Published January 27, 2010

I recently had a lot of reminders of how important accountability can be in achieving our success. Whenever I think about accountability,  I think–report card, performance reviews and feelings of being judged quickly pop up.  Accountability = something to be avoided!

One of the joys of having my own business is that I am my own boss.  I no longer have anyone to report to. But now I truly get the importance of this thing called measurement.  I consider myself a very determined person.  I set goals for myself and have a regular To Do List.  But I can’t honestly say I know where my time goes.  How much time am I wasting? Am I doing the right things?

One of my goals is to complete my book in 2010.  I decided to align myself with my friend, Yvonne, who lives in another state.  Yvonne is also a writer and we made a commitment to get up early each morning and write on our projects.  There are many times that the only thing that gets me up early is knowing that she is waiting for my morning email–“Hey, I’m up!”  I’m convinced I have made much more progress having an accountability buddy than I would by myself.

I have started working with a new coach, Michelle Pippin.  She has turned me on to the importance of being accountable.  In one of her blogs, she made the statement of how we are good “at our word” towards other people; but we don’t honor ourselves that way.  Wow, that was powerful.  I remember times that if I said I would attend a meeting, boy, I would make sure I would be there.  But I agree with her–I often slack off on the commitments I make to myself.

As you might know, I have become a leader with WaggleForce, a national network of local career clubs.  There are many reasons that job seekers could benefit from joining a career club.  One of the important ones is being accountable to each other for our commitments and progress. Accountability works!

So, what about you? Are you ready to make a commitment to yourself for an important goal this year?  What experiences have you had with being accountable to someone?  I’ve love to hear about your stories!

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Although I had your business card for a few weeks, I hesitated calling you until one day, I just felt inspired to contact you. Am I glad I did! After applying for literally hundreds of jobs this past year with not even one interview…after sending the résumé you created for me, not only did I get the interview, but I got the job! I feel that God inspired me to move forward and sent you into my life when I needed it the most. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
—J. Bloomfield, Asheville, NC

 

So, thought I'd brighten your day!  My new supervisor complimented my resume. She said she liked the summary at the top. She also commented that she wasn't positive that my background would've jumped out as a perfect match, but it was written in a way that highlighted my skills as a match for her needs. The resume you wrote for me did much more than any of those things, however. It changed the way I view myself.  It supported me, and gave me a confidence that I was lacking at that time. When I first saw your draft, I didn't immediately connect with it, yet I knew it was all truth. It grew on me, or I grew into it. By the time I walked into those last 2 interviews, I had a new confidence. Something deeper than just knowing I could do the job. I knew I was the right choice. That confidence, that knowing, attracted those jobs to me as surely as my credentials well presented.  It was both, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 
—J. Everson, Bloomfield, KY

 

I just wanted to write and let you know how much I appreciate your help with my resume. It worked!!! I have had 3 interviews, a step I did not reach before. While I have not received a job offer yet, I know it is just a matter of time before I find a position that is the right fit. Your help with the resume made all the difference!
—L. McLamb Asheville

 

I have built my business through satisfied clients so I cherish testimonials. One of the most stand-out testimonials that was given to me was shared by a client I coached to help her with an upcoming interview.

This client told me later, that she had met a woman at a community event. Jen shared about looking for a position and was telling her about the "biz coach" who prepped her for the interview. The other woman mentioned how she found this excellent person to do her resume and that the résumé itself was highly complemented on in her interview. And best yet, she got the job in the end! In a few minutes, they deducted they were both talking about the same person…ME!

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