Doing What You Say You Are Going to Do (& 20 Ideas To Help You Actually Follow Through)
Success is one of those words that doesn’t mean much to anyone, because it means something different to everyone.
It truly is in the eye of the beholder.
Some people think of success and they think of money.
Some people think of fame.
Others think of a healthy family.
Or complete autonomy.
Success is often perceived as an elusive goal, achievable only by a select few.
Regardless of how you define it, for argument's sake, let’s look at success as binary.
You either succeed or you fail.
If you make choices with this black and white lens, you’d likely be able to visualize what you need to do to succeed.
However, the challenge is not knowing what you need to do, but actually doing it.
Therefore, the secret to success lies in a simple, yet peculiarly difficult reality: doing what you say you are going to do.
We all know what we need to do to lose weight.
Stop eating like an a**hole, eat real food, and move more.
We all know what we need to do to get a promotion.
Work hard, be kind, and implement feedback.
We all know what you need to do to be a better partner.
Listen, love, and support one another.
It’s so easy, it’s almost silly to say.
That said, with every decision comes a choice, you can either do or not do.
And if you want to be successful within your career, athletic endeavors, or life, you need to do what you say you are going to do.
Most of us have a clear understanding of what we need to do to succeed. We set goals, make plans, and identify the steps necessary to achieve them.
However, knowing what to do is only half the battle.
Success requires a combination of accountability, discipline, and effective systems.
Here are 20 actionable ideas to help you do what you say you are going to do:
Set Clear Goals:
Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. If you are not a goal person or the ‘goal’ is too broad, fine. Simply write out what you want. If you can’t write it out, you don’t know what you want. How can you be successful, if you don’t know what that looks like? Start there first.
Break Down Goals:
Divide large goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Figure out what are the biggest levers are that create the most change, don’t start by focusing on minute details until you have the ball rolling. Bill Gates had once famously said, “Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years.” I think he’s right. Create manageable tasks and continue to work towards them.
Develop a Routine:
Establish a daily routine that aligns with your goals. Stack new habits with your current habits. Create a lifestyle that is conducive to what you want. A lifestyle should be sustainable. Don’t create a routine that causes burnout 2 months later. Create a ritual for the work you want to do. The more patternable, the more likely you’ll continue to do it.
Use a Planner:
Plan your day, week, month, and even year to ensure you stay on track. If you don’t like planners, try a calendar. Make sure you allocate enough time to work on the things you need to work on. If you don’t have any time allocated to accomplishing your goals, I can guarantee you won’t accomplish them.
Set Priorities:
Identify your most important tasks and focus on them first. Say no to anything that doesn’t align with your priorities. Having a list of priorities can help you determine what needs to be done.
Create a To-Do Lists:
Write down tasks and check them off as you complete them. I’m a perpetual To-Do list creator. I like checking boxes and have always found it helpful to create aTo-Do lists the night or day before, so I can go into the following day with a clear plan in mind. To-do lists are great, but if you’re spending the first 30 minutes of your day figuring out how you should plan your day, you’re going to be off to a rough start.
Use Time Blocks:
Allocate specific time slots for different activities. Do this on your calendar or planner. Allocate chunks of time to batch work together, rather than going in and out of work. Productivity is much greater the more time you can focus on one activity.
Eliminate Distractions (create a Not To-Do List):
Identify and remove distractions that hinder your productivity. This might come from your environment or your own personal behaviors. One useful tool is to create a list of things you can not do. Distractions are usually a result of not creating clear boundaries or opening yourself to distractions. It’s wild how much you can get done if you leave your phone in the other room for a few hours.
Set Deadlines:
Assign deadlines to tasks to create a sense of urgency. If you don’t have any sort of timeline, you will never get anything done. Create deadlines and reward or punish yourself for making or missing them.
Track Progress:
Regularly review your progress and adjust your plans as needed. Review your goals, adjust your plans, and look at your calendar. Are you still on track? Schedule regular reviews during the 1st of the month or 1st of the quarter.
Hold Yourself Publicly Accountable:
Use accountability partners or tools to stay accountable. As soon as you put it out to the world you’re a lot more likely to do it, because now you have don’t just have to be accountable to yourself, but to others as well. The first blog I ever created, I specifically used as a public accountability tool. First, it allowed me to write out my objectives in a clear and concise way, then I would publish it for the world to see. If I didn’t do what I said I would do, I would feel like a fraud.
Reward (or punish) Yourself:
If you currently work for someone, ask yourself, “why do you show up to work on time everyday?” Why is it that you don’t have a problem showing up to work, but you do have a problem saying no to the bagels that your colleague brings in? Well, it’s because you get rewarded (or punished) for showing up. If you show up, you get paid. If you don’t show up, you might get fired. Design stakes that allow for real rewards or punishments. Go extreme. Everyday you miss (said activity) you owe (said person) $20. If $20 isn’t important enough to you, go to $500. I guarantee you wouldn’t miss a day, if the punishment was to lose $500.
Practice Self-Discipline:
Train yourself to stick to your plans, even when it's challenging. This is why it’s important to do hard things. Doing hard things, make normal things seem easy. Doing what you say you are going to do isn’t easy, so learn to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Stay Organized:
Keep your workspace and materials organized to maintain focus. Place reminders of your goals and tasks in visible locations. Establishing a well-structured environment to support your efforts to stay disciplined and accountable.
Use Technology:
Utilize apps and tools for task management and productivity. I’m not a big user of online technology, but if it works, without distracting you, use it and automate when possible. Use an online or physical habit tracker to monitor your daily habits and routines if needed.
Establish Boundaries:
Set clear boundaries to protect your time and energy. Create specific areas for different activities to minimize distractions and have a designated space.
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others." — Brene Brown
Reflect Regularly:
Take time to reflect on your progress and learn from your experiences. Schedule these reviews once a week, once a month, or at least once a quarter.
Seek Feedback:
Ask for feedback from others to improve your approach. It’s a hard task to walk alone, find people that can help you improve.
Stay Flexible:
Be open to adjusting your plans as circumstances change.
“If you don’t have a backup plan, you don’t have a plan.”
Seek Support:
Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage your success. Nobody becomes successful on their own. Find people that support, love, and encourage you. The best way to find it, is to be it.
The secret to success lies in the simple act of doing what you say you are going to do.
By embracing accountability, cultivating discipline, and creating effective systems and structures, you can transform your intentions into actions.
Accountability is about taking responsibility for your actions and ensuring that you follow through on your commitments. Discipline is the practice of training yourself to follow a set of rules.
When accountability and discipline intersect, they create a powerful synergy that propels you toward success. Accountability ensures you stay on track, while discipline provides the structure and consistency needed to maintain your progress.
Remember, success is not an overnight phenomenon but the result of intentional focus, sustained effort, and commitment.
Own the process,
Tim
Author of Mastery Monday
Student & Founder