Get Off the Sidelines: Taking Ownership of Your Results Starts With Action

Results in life do not materialize through observation alone. Personal accountability and growth require a shift from contemplation to movement.

Many individuals find themselves paralyzed by large projects or emotional challenges. Taking the first step in personal development involves moving past the fear of failure or the comfort of a plan.

In the context of performance, the decision to engage represents the highest value point. 

Navigating Accountability in Life vs Golf Analogy

In the game of golf, no amount of reading the green or checking the wind moves the ball. A ball remains stationary until a player strikes it. These stationary balls can reflect the gap between a goal and the reality of achieving it. 

We can find ourselves operating on a similar principle. Projects, big decisions, tough decisions can lie in front of us but yet no action taken.  They become stationary balls that people stare at for weeks or months.

This hesitation can stem from any number of stories we tell ourselves or thoughts we have.  They appear too complex and we don’t know where to begin.  There’s fear about doing something wrong.

This is where the end of accountability is crucial.

Accountability starts with the recognition of what we can actually do. We then have the ability to evaluation our options. Then there is the end of accountability:  doing something.

Like in golf, we can certainly evaluate our environment, but the value is found in the strike. Only then can a person see results. 

Overcoming with Actionable Writing

Journaling can serve as a tool for processing this hesitation.

Asking “why” questions can help identify the source of resistance. A person may ask why they are hesitating or what they are waiting for. This process brings clarity to the decision.

Caution is warranted though.  Journaling carries a unique risk. It can become procrastination disguised as planning.

The physical act of writing should not be a place to hide from the start. Effective reflection leads to an immediate decision. The white space on a page is an environment to challenge and refine ideas. It must eventually force a transition from the notebook to the strike. Self-discipline and results depend on this movement from the page to the physical world.

Taking the First Step in Personal Development despite Ambiguity

A person can recognize the action when a clear first step appears. Sometimes the best path is obvious.

In other cases, several choices exist without a clear winner. A person must accept the ambiguity and pick a direction.  Waiting for perfect information is a common form of paralysis. Action provides more data than thinking.

If a clear first step is identified, taking it is the only requirement. If there is a finite list of possible steps but no clear best choice, a person must choose one and begin. The decision to engage is a high value asset. It is the catalyst for growth.

The Cumulative Power of Engagement

The decision to swing is the most valuable part of the game. Without taking a swing, nothing can happen.  As such accountability gives a person the authority over the start. This ownership cannot be shared. It is singular.

Once a person becomes aware of the circumstances, they are accountable for the response. Ruminating or complaining about factors outside of one's control resolves very little. Full accountability is achieved when movement toward a resolution begins. This strike sets the trajectory for the entire journey.

Go ahead. Take a swing.

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References & Further Reading

• Pennebaker, J. W. Expressive Writing and Health. University of Texas at Austin.
• Berninger, Virginia. Handwriting and the Mind. University of Washington research on the brain functions of writing.
• The Power of A.G.E. Evoke Journals Blog. Understanding the cycle of Accountability, Grit, and Empathy.
• A Musing on Accountability. Evoke Journals Blog. Exploring sole ownership and the starting point of action.