Accountability Partners
Tonight we had our monthly telebridge call for aspiring authors with Dr. Ivan Misner. The topic was accountability. He first asked if anyone on the call had a story they’d been telling for years, but had never written down. 6-7 people piped in with examples, including me.
Then he made us accountable - to him and the entire group - by telling us that we had until a certain date to write the article and send it to him. He asked for agreement, which everyone gave (like who wouldn’t?). Then he said that he will be sending out a list to the entire group (about 70 people around the world) that either says “Here’s their article” or “They didn’t fulfill their commitment”.
You could hear a couple of people on the call gasp.
So what do you think? Is fear of public shaming enough to get me to write the article? Actually my word is good enough, and I don’t need the shaming piece to get the job done.
It will be interesting to see who steps up, and who does not. As my friend Dan Boisclair says, All excuses are equal, pick one, mine’s peanut butter.
My topic? You Can Meet People Everywhere. Ewww….I need a better title. The story is about attending things you might not be happy about but by making yourself go you never know who you might meet. The more exposure you have, the more business you will get. That kind of thing.
If you’d like to be considered as a contributor to my article, post a comment here and tell me either an off-beat place you met someone important to you or how you start conversations with strangers. Or whatever you’d like to say on the topic. Because I have to go now…I have an article to write!
August 30, 2007 at 10:15 am
Hi Beth, we have no met, I actually found your blog on Debby Peters’ blog and found this topic worth commenting on. My family says I cannot go ANYWHERE without knowing someone–they say it drives them nuts. Hmm oh well I love people, so if I’m in a situation and I don’t know someone I will give a compliment to break the ice such as….I love your glasses, what a great necklace, your top is gorgeous. It seems to work!
Good luck writing your article!
September 1, 2007 at 8:55 am
Cheryl - I think that’s great that you know people everywhere! Sometimes it drives me nuts too, because it does make it hard to have a quiet evening out but that’s okay, the more people you meet, the wider your network, the better it is for business and your all-around life!
Success in all you do!
September 6, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I certainly am never at a loss for words, but when I am out and about, I tend to wait for people to start the conversation or ask me that question….that leads to great conversation. 2 examples - one is that I always wear a wild pin on my jacket or shirt. Great conversation starter, people either love it or hate it, but they will generally always comment. OR, my BNI logo shirt. I was sitting in the Fargo, ND airport last year with my BNI NENY logo shirt and the man to my right recognized the name BNI and we talked for over an hour. He was in a ND chapter but moved his territory which meant he left his chapter. I am waiting to read that book you will write!