Wow, Todd! This hits the spot for me!

I know I'm a responsible person and have been accountable on many things in my life, but when it comes to health and eating habits, I've let that slip away. I always felt that I don't have to be accountable to anybody in that arena. But after reading your post, it shows that I AM accountable to myself in that area. I need to start taking control of that area of my life.

This post has been encouraging. Thank you!

Hi Myrelle,

Oh, your message came at the wrong time. I have been overeating all week. :-) All the good holiday cooking is catching up to me.

On a serious note, if you will take responsibility for ALL areas of your life and refuse to place blame or accept excuses, you will see amazing things take place in your life.

Congratulations on recognizing what you need to do.

I wish you the best,

Todd

Hello Smith,

This post is great. Am seeing year 2011 as my year of great advancement...wandering how i can really advance in my career, finance and other areas of my life..until i stumble over this post...NOW, i have one of the key to advancement handed over to me,...PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
Thanks.

Anthony Olujimi
Lagos, Nigeria

Hi Anthony from Nigeria,

Thanks for reading my blog. If you are really wanting to advance your life in 2011, I would highly recommend downloading the MP3 version of my book. The lessons found in this book can help you tremendously.

Thanks,

Todd

Hi Todd,

thanks for sharing your advice. Accountability is highly important, an accountability partner probably even more because most people, myself included, tend to find superb excuses and justifications why they didn't fulfill their own expectations.

I want to pick up a thought from KJ's comment: If people don't learn to be accountable to themselves, to their own lives and goals, they are held accountable by and to others - to their lives and goals. People who fail to control themselves are controlled by others.

Take care

Oliver

Hey Oliver,

Thanks for your contribution. I agree, when people are unable to consistently hold themselves accountable, then finding people to help hold them accountable is critical.

This is one of those tough lessons that requires an intentional and disciplined effort!

Is now the Oktoberfest there in Germany?

Todd

I have made some major decisions lately and the biggest ones are taking accountability for my career, the relationships in my life, and following through with what makes me happy. There is no one that can or will do it for me. It makes me free! I like that I'm holding myself accountable and I don't have expectations of other people to do it for me.

Shannon

That is awesome! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing! Todd

If it is going to be it is up to me.

I love the post. Complete responsibility for our own
choices and behavior is true maturity.

Unfortunately most people still prefer playing
the blame game, I used to until I realized that the key to the life
I said I wanted was to be found in the mirror and nowhere else.

Have a great "fin de semana" (weekend)

Hi Ernesto,

You are right, personal accountability is a sign of maturity. If people would hold themselves accountable for their actions, responsibilities and goals, they would never again blame anyone. Their life would be transformed and they would start living a life they never dreamed was possible.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Todd

Thank you once again for a great way to start my day!

Thanks J. Reed! Glad you enjoyed today's post!

Awesome! This one's a clear blueprint that one must print out to compliment any to do list. Great points that I'm thrilled to mark as check to be in control of my life. TY Todd

Thanks El! Have a great weekend. Todd

Hey Todd,
When is your book coming out again? This lesson today was something I needed to hear. I'm 22, and right now I'm learning to hold myself accountable in every aspect of my life; however, it's not easy. I think that your lesson today will help me out a lot. Thanks.

HI Roxanna,

My book is being printed. It should be available on the market by the second week of November. I am really happy with it. It exceeded my very high expectations. Even if I had a year to tweak and refine it, I don't think I could make it any better. I hope you agree when it comes out.

I am proud of you as a 22 year old taking your time to learn and grow! If you implement these lessons now, you will see great things happen in your life.

Holding yourself accountable will be one of the most challenging things you have ever done, but also the most rewarding.

Thanks for your note!

Todd

Another wonderful post -- headed for my printer. Appreciated Kilroy's post about being a latchkey kid too. I'd never thought about the positive aspects of that before. Growing up in farm country means that there was no question about accountability -- it was called responsibility. Animals need fed, milked and cared for every day at certain times. Crops need planted, weeded and harvested at certain times of the year. Equipment breakdowns need fixed. There's no "boss" making sure it's done; it's your own investment on the line. I guess that's why I have trouble understanding people who DON'T have self responsible behavior. It seems so obvious.

My best to-do list ever was for the final months of graduate school. Two columns, 9 point type, sorted by deadline date -- and four feet long on the university's dot-matrix perf-sheet printer; I did not separate the sheets. I marked off various items with different colored markers and ink, each with a different meaning. It became a brightly colored roadmap where I could see in a glance where I was and what was the next priority item. I've kept that "list" just because it proves that even the impossible can be accomplished with enough planning and discipline.

Hi Janelle,

It sounds like the way you were raised had a meaningful impact on your life. You obviously had parents who taught you the correct life principles at an early age.

I love your story about your long "To Do" list. Be sure to keep it! I wish I had some of my early lists.

Thanks for your contribution!

Todd

initial post edited. see above

Hello Todd, yes this is a wonderful peice on accountability. We all need to consider striving for this characteristic with honesty and integrity. Thank you once again for your wonderful lessons,and my best to you and your family, live, laugh and love, Donna Brewer

Hey Donna,

Thanks for stopping by today to comment. Glad you enjoyed this lesson.

Best wishes to your family as well!

Enjoy your weekend.

Todd

Hi Todd ... Good Morning!

I taught my boys early in life to accept full responsibility for their actions and to always tell the truth. I taught them they would be faaaaarrrrrr ahead of most others in this world if they would do those two (little) things (that matter). I stand by those teachings today.

I stood in my pottery booth last weekend and held a lady I did not know while she sobbed her soul into my arms about her life situation with her husband who walked away and had the means to give money to the kids and draw them away from her. She was in such grief and sorrow. I tried to hold her, comfort her, let her know I understood and would help all I could.

I am so sick and tired of hearing story after story after song after song of people not keeping their word, throwing other people and relationships away and taking NO responsibility for their part in anything that happened. Same holds true for me and my marriage. I AM STILL HERE and waiting just to TALK(!!!) about it, and even that has not been honored. ALL has been blamed on me and it simply is not accurate.

10 years as a marriage and family and individual counselor and I can tell you with assurance it is rarely - if EVER - only ONE person's "fault." Usually it NEVER IS.

If we are to make a real difference in this world with others, we must, MUST learn to live with integrity, we MUST take resonsibility for all our actions, for all ways our actions affect others. expecially if we are intentionally doing things to make a person feel this way or that.

Now, I know that people have their own issues and can interpret things the wrong way, too. But, regardless, we can be full of purposefulness and intentinality by being and taking full responsiblity for ourselves and our actions each and every day - and EXPECTING others to treat us with the same consideration.

This, truly, at least to me, is one HUGE thing - NOT a Little thing - that will make a difference for ourselves, our families, our community and , who knows?, maybe our world.

Thanks for all you do and share, I certianly do appreciate you and I also hope we can meet one day. I feel a trip to FL in my motorhome coming on!!!! hahaha

Blessings to you and your readers today...
Dave

Dr. David A. Cook
118 Yost Farm Rd.
Salisbury, NC 28146

Hi David,

You are right. The principles behind today's lesson are HUGE, not small.

I too am tired of people not keeping their word, but unfortunately, it's the world we live in. All we can do is be smart about the people with whom we choose to spend our time.

I can't wait for your to come cruising through Florida in your motor home! We will have to do lunch, dinner or whatever works!

Thanks for chiming in on this post and offering your thoughts.

Todd

Hello Todd,
Today’s lesson is easier said than done for most people. Most people grew up by being accountable to others.

We first learned to be accountable to our parents and then other family members. Later we added teachers, coaches, authority figures, friends, associates and employers among others into the mix. They always provided great excuses for not being self motivated.

There is a lot in life we must unlearn before we can commit to a new way of thinking. Your valued lessons like the three area types of self accountability are a fantastic guideline.

For those of us not ready to count on yourself may I suggest connecting with someone who has a similar problem and become accountability partners. A simple daily 5 minute call each outlining today’s goals combined with a review of yesterday’s achievements and failures could prove to be mutually rewarding.

As for me, I was lucky to grow up as a latch key kid. I learned early that if I wanted something good to happen, it was up to me to make it happen.

“If you want great things to happen for you, make yourself the one accountable to insure it happens!” – K.J. Kilroy Was Here!

Accounting For An Audit,
Kevin J. Kilroy

HI Kevin,

Great contribution!

Thanks!

Todd