Taking action is the only thing that makes a difference
It’s already July (I swear Christmas was three seconds ago), and the new financial year is here.
It feels like that, doesn’t it? Life is a non stop, chaotic rollercoaster…add in running a business and it’s exhausting. Sometimes it’s very hard to actually put time aside for yourself.
This year one of my resolutions was to move my body. I’ve had the same resolution every bloody new year for about 20 years, and I am sick of my own bullshit. This year, I was determined to stick to it.
So, I bought 50 pilates classes.
*gulp*
And I decided I needed to do them all before EOFY.
*double gulp*
Buying the classes upfront was a commitment I knew I needed to keep myself accountable and motivated to attend. Sure, dropping the coin was a bit nausea-inducing, but I knew without that commitment, I just wouldn’t go.
There’s always something, right? Work is busy, kids get the sniffles, you feel a bit flat. Excuses are too easy to find.
I knew I needed to move my body. I knew I would feel better when I did. But left to my own devices, I’d find a million excuses not to go. It’s so easy to push it down the bottom of the to-do list if there isn’t something or someone there saying ‘hey you, get off your butt’.
So, I committed. I spent the money, I told everyone I know, and I scheduled it into my routine. It turned out to be the best thing I could’ve done for myself. A few months in, it was actually working — I was going consistently. And, by some miracle, I didn’t completely hate it.
#fitspo #pilatesgirl (#notreallybuti’mtrying)
Then an injury threw things off course. I wasn’t able to finish my final classes, and it would’ve been easy to just give up. But instead of walking away, I chose to honour the time I’d already carved out. I kept showing up — just differently. I moved in ways that felt good, and that reminded me this was never just about ticking boxes. It was about showing up for myself, no matter what that looked like.
Holding yourself accountable to things is one of the most important aspects of running your own business.
You can have all the knowledge in the world, do every course under the sun, and invest thousands upon thousands of dollars… but until you actually do the thing, nothing will happen.
You have to take action, or it’s all for nothing.
You need to work out what it is that’ll help you stay accountable. It’s different for all of us. For me, it is investing a sickening amount of money that I can’t risk wasting. And telling absolutely everyone I know about my goals. Because both of those things create skin in the game for me.
Nothing like a little financial panic and public shame to light a fire under you.
You need to find out what your motivator is. Maybe it’s…
- An accountability buddy or group: Having someone check in with you regularly makes a huge difference. Whether it’s a coach, a biz bestie, or a mastermind group, having to explain why you didn’t do the thing you committed to doing is powerful.
- Putting it in the calendar with deadlines: Not just thinking about your goal, but scheduling actual time to do it. Bonus points if you treat it like a client booking you’d never cancel.
- Public progress tracking: Some people thrive off sharing the behind-the-scenes journey on stories or a close friends list. It builds momentum and connection.
- Setting micro-rewards: Promise yourself a cheeky Friday arvo spritz or a trip to the beach if you hit a milestone. Small incentives keep it light but motivating.
- Outsourcing or delegating: Hire someone (like the Tidy Tog!) to take over part of the process so it has to move forward. Sometimes accountability looks like buying back your time so you can stay on track.
If you’re waiting for the “perfect time” to invest in a course, a coach, or systems that will actually help you grow – well, there isn’t one. The chances are, you’re just commitment-phobic. And if you keep putting it off, nothing will change.
Sometimes, the biggest transformation happens when you commit before you feel ready.
Are you ready to grow this year?
We’d love to help you.
Stace xx
Need help to grow? The Big Picture is enrolling soon, and kicking off on 1st September. It’s your roadmap from chaotic creative to professional pro. Find out more here.
