Why You Need an Art Accountability Partner.
Personality-wise I am a pretty organized person. I can come up with a solid plan in no time because I am a born planner. Hell, I make plans in my sleep. Staying on task and on schedule is another matter. One of the biggest challenges to anyone who works for themselves is trying to stay focused. When you are your own boss, setting your own deadlines, you only have yourself to answer to. I often joke that I have the best boss in the world. My boss, for instance, has been known to let me leave the office in the middle of the day to go have a beer with my friends or to go shopping for a new pair of sandals in the dead of winter. Sounds great until I remember I work on a strict commission only basis. Duh.
So as gifted as I am at planning, I need a little help when it comes to focusing on the plan and staying on track. This is where my accountability partner comes in. Every Friday afternoon I have an accountability meeting with my artist friend Heidi. Basically we go over our Sunday Summit sheet point by point and talk about what we did and didn’t get done and why. Then we discuss what we want to complete by the following week’s meeting. Also, every Sunday after we’ve done our individual Sunday Summits, we e-mail a copy to eachother so that we each know what the other is working on for the week. Typing it up and sending it off to someone else gives it power. It means that you really mean it.
How do you set up deadlines for yourself? How do you stay focused and on task? Do you have an accountability partner or group? Does your boss let you leave the office in the middle of the day to go have a beer with my friends?
So as gifted as I am at planning, I need a little help when it comes to focusing on the plan and staying on track. This is where my accountability partner comes in. Every Friday afternoon I have an accountability meeting with my artist friend Heidi. Basically we go over our Sunday Summit sheet point by point and talk about what we did and didn’t get done and why. Then we discuss what we want to complete by the following week’s meeting. Also, every Sunday after we’ve done our individual Sunday Summits, we e-mail a copy to eachother so that we each know what the other is working on for the week. Typing it up and sending it off to someone else gives it power. It means that you really mean it.
How do you set up deadlines for yourself? How do you stay focused and on task? Do you have an accountability partner or group? Does your boss let you leave the office in the middle of the day to go have a beer with my friends?
Kesha, I love this idea. It's been difficult to stay on task for about the past six months while getting settled into a new area. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I haven't found an artist's support system yet. That face-to-face accountability is invaluable.
ReplyDeleteKesha, thanks for this post...this is a great idea. It's funny because I have a person like this in my life but I dubbed him my great motivator...and of course it's one-sided...and done via text/phone. I love the face-to-face, make-it-concrete-through-writing-it-down...send-an-email aspect of it. New plan!
ReplyDeleteI would love an accountability partner! I think they are great to have. My issue is finding someone that is just as committed as I am to being committed to each other (did that make sense) I have had two, and then life happens and you dont hear from the again! SIGH!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps its time to tweet about it or put it on my facebook. Hopefully someone will come out of that
Stephanie-
ReplyDeleteI say give it another try. It's true---life does get in the way sometimes.
That's exactly why I have several people to answer to instead of one.
Ever thought about starting a group?
Yes I have thought about starting a group but I think having several people to talk to is a little bit easier. I will post something today about this. I even messaged Martha who posted on your blog earlier about it and she responded maybe so we will see. I'm working on it though..
ReplyDeleteI guess its time to send out some feelers and get this accountability party started.
This is a great idea, Kesha! I do meet with a friend every other week and discuss art topics & life. She's also someone I go to a lot of events with. We haven't done any kind of "accountability" type emails or anything, but maybe this is something we could bring into our meetings. Thanks for the idea! Hope you have a great day. (Love your blog, btw!!)--Alli
ReplyDelete