Go Public! Unlock Your Potential with Accountability
Do you ever find yourself wanting to learn a new skill but struggle to stay motivated? We’ve all been there. Between daily distractions and the occasional bout of procrastination, it’s easy to let our best intentions fall by the wayside.
But what if there was a secret weapon you could use to boost your focus and hold yourself accountable? The answer might surprise you: going public with your goals.
It’s time for you to go public.
No. We would not be discussing IPOs. There have been a few recent debacles. Best to stay away.
But there’s a personal equivalent to private companies planning an IPO.
You too can decide to go public.
Why?
To create external pressure and increase accountability.
For?
- To develop new skills or improve existing skills (writing, design, cooking, programming, public speaking, stand up comedy etc.)
- To test your business idea
How?
- For skills such as writing or design — start a blog or publish on platforms such as Medium, LinkedIn etc. It’s free.
2. For skills such as cooking, stand up comedy, singing, dance, training — start a YouTube Channel. Again, it’s free
3. For a business idea, launch the most basic version (minimum viable product).
Example: if a personal finance management app is your start-up idea, start with a free spreadsheet that users can download to plan their savings, investments and expenses.
Always share your goals with your users.
Make your goals public. Your most trusted and loyal users become your motivation.
Their expectations push your limits and keep procrastination at bay.
They push you:
1. To publish your next blog, story, poem or artwork
2. To stream your new recipe or performance on YouTube, TikTok or other channels
2. To launch a better version of the spreadsheet
Need a push — Go public!
How Does This Work?
Not everyone has the same level of self-discipline and focus. Most of us get easily distracted.
We spend hours mindlessly scrolling through our social media feed. Impulsive scrolling. Before we realize, we waste precious time and energy reading, viewing and reacting to non-value adding posts.
For someone who gets easily distracted and loses focus, we need an external force — a reminder of where we are against where we planned to be.
One way is to get a coach or a mentor.
The other trick is to make your goals public.
Making your goals public can have the following results:
- Our supporter(s) will monitor our progress and continuously nudge us to make progress
- Our sceptics will mock us for not making adequate progress
Both these are potential catalysts to not just nudge, but motivate us to keep moving forward.
If no one knows what we are planning to accomplish, there is no one to question or be concerned if we fail.
The idea is to have several people who want to question our progress. We want them to be in our face, reminding us of our speed and achievements.
We need to learn to draw inspiration from these external forces. We need to strengthen our resolve to prove ourselves by making continuous progress to achieve our goals.
Take Away
Taking your goals public isn’t about seeking validation or external pressure to feel miserable. It’s about harnessing the power of community and external forces to keep you moving forward.
By sharing your aspirations, you create a network of supporters who will celebrate your wins and gently nudge you back on track during setbacks.
So, what are you waiting for? Embrace the power of public accountability and unlock your full potential!
Ready to go public with your goals? Share your experiences in the comments below! I’d also love to hear your best tips for setting and achieving personal goals. Let’s help each other stay motivated and reach new heights!
