Account and Accountability!

Well, I was exercising at the gym tonight and thinking the entire time about accountability. And so I began to take into account all of the things I wanted to accomplish this month. And then I began to think about the various definitions for the word "account" and how powerful a word it is. There are several definitions of the word "account" but I'd like to share with you the definition below found at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/account.

Account

1. A narrative or record of events.

2.

a. A reason given for a particular action or event: What is the account for this loss?

b. A report relating to one's conduct: gave a satisfactory account of herself.

c. A basis or ground: no reason to worry on that account.

Why do I share this with you and what does it mean for your career? If you want to achieve your career goals, it is imperative that you take account of yourself! You also need to account for the actions you take (or don't take!) towards the pursuit of your career goals.

When you begin to take account for your actions, you take ownership and responsibility. And then you are accountable for those actions. Meaning the success or lack of success in reaching your desired career goals has a direct correlation of how well you account for your actions and make yourself accountable for the results (or lack thereof!).

This is not rocket science but it is something that is difficult for many people. We all understand the phrase "Sense and Sensibility". It's a no-brainer! So now just add one more phrase to your toolkit - "Account and Accountability" - and you're on your way. Repeat this mantra several times a day and I guarantee that soon your daily actions will be transformed into meaningful, goal-driven activities.