The Gift of Being Held Accountable

Hey family, Michael here…

As New Year's Day gets closer.

You're probably busy.

Wrapping gifts. Managing schedules. Recovering from a small vacation like us.

Plus, trying to keep the peace, meanwhile already thinking about next year.

So I'll keep this short.

Someone Once Refused to Let Me Off the Hook

Years ago, I was stuck.

Not with one thing, with a lot of things.

I knew what I needed to do. I had all the information. I'd thought about it plenty.

But I kept saying "soon."

Soon I'll start. Soon I'll make the call. Soon I'll figure it out.

Then someone looked me in the eye and asked:

"When, exactly?"

Not "have you thought about it?"

Not "you should probably do that."

Just: "When?"

And I didn't have an answer.

That day changed everything.

Advice vs. Accountability

There's a difference.

Advice says: "You should probably do that."

Accountability says: "What's stopping you from starting this week?"

Advice lets you nod and walk away.

Accountability makes you answer.

One feels comfortable.

The other moves you forward.

This Applies to Everything

• The degree you keep saying you'll finish.

• The weight you've been meaning to lose.

• The hard conversation you've been avoiding.

• The business you want to start.

• The boundary you need to set.

• The goal you wrote down in January that's still sitting there in December.

We don't stay stuck because we don't know what to do.

We stay stuck because no one's asking us when we're going to do it.

The Gift No One Asks For

Being held accountable doesn't feel like a gift in the moment.

It feels uncomfortable. Inconvenient. Sometimes annoying.

But looking back?

It's the reason things finally got done.

The person who refused to let me stay stuck gave me one of the greatest gifts I've ever received.

Not more information.

Not another option to consider.

Just a simple question I couldn't dodge.

Before the Year Ends

If you've been stuck, on anything, maybe what you need isn't another article. Another course. Another plan.

Maybe it's someone who won't let you off the hook.

Someone who asks: "When?"

And waits for an answer.

Find that person.

Or be that person for someone else.

Happy Holidays, family.

✅ P.S. Want someone who won't let you off the hook? [Book a free 15-minute call], we'll look at your family's plan together and figure out what needs to move first.

✅ P.P.S. What's the ONE thing you've been putting off? Hit reply and tell me. Sometimes just saying it out loud is the first step.

Verse of the Week:

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

— Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

Disclaimer: This content is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical, medical, financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult licensed professionals who understand your individual situation.