Why your business needs two types of accountability.

The tide's coming in, fast. Your kayak is there on the sand, starting to get gently nudged.

Meanwhile you're flat out on a beach towel. Hot sun. Cool breeze. Iced tea. Are you going to get up in time to save your kayak from floating out to sea?

Your business may be calling, all kinds of important things to get done. But who can lift a finger when the sun is so bright?

Sipping iced tea is just like checking email.

If you checked email 1000 times yesterday, you're just as likely to check email 1000 times today. And not get to that really important project that's going to really help your business set sail.

What's going to make you get to it? Well, if sand blew in your face and your bills weren't going to get paid, that panic would probably have you jumping up to work on your business.

It's effective. But not very fun. And it takes you right out of your heart and inspiration.

So why can't you just have gentle reminders?

The sun is crossing the sky. The breeze is picking up. All of these signs are telling you the tide is coming in, and your kayak needs tending to.

But the sun is so warm, and you're so comfortable... do you really need to get up... just... yet?

Are panic and force the only way to get things done?

Accountability replaces the rising tide.

Instead of waiting for a force of nature to move you, you can create some support in moving yourself. And it involves creating accountability.

Unfortunately, accountability is a dirty word if you have a tendency to be like a drill sergeant, whipping yourself toward your goals. This is even harsher than facing the rising tide.

Except this time it's self-imposed. So, instead of responding, you ignore it, or fight it. Either way, it's easy to forget in the moment -why- you're working toward some deadline or other.

You need two types of accountability.

The first accountability is 'external' where you create a rising tide for yourself. And the second accountability is 'internal,' where you have compassionate support to face the tide.

Hmmm... seems kind of confusing, internal, external, compassionate support, rising tide. How does it really work?

Keys to Compassionate Accountability

* External means committing so they are counting on you.

External accountability is when you set a deadline, and announce it to the world. You pre-sell your book, and people are expecting it by a certain date. You take out a business loan that comes due in 18 months.

Your clients are counting on you, or the person or institution that invested in you is counting on getting their money back. Either way, people see you are the expert, the provider, and the one who can make it happen.

This helps you rise to your potential. It squeezes you, pushes you to perform, perhaps in ways you never thought you could.

* Internal means you are counting on them.

Internal accountability is when you collect friends, colleagues, mastermind buddies, a coach or mentor to help bring a merciful attitude towards your goals.

These are people you trust, who love and care for you. You can lean into them. If you get in a jam, they aren't going to whip you; they are going to help you navigate through. They'll help you hold to the external deadline when they believe you can do it.

And when they see you might drown, they'll help you come up with a merciful alternative- like extending your deadline.

Adversity can bring the best out in you. It will wake you up, get you off your beach blanket, and bring your business to safety- paddling it towards whatever goals you've set for yourself.

And, if you also have internal accountability, it means you're never alone at sea. Use both internal and external accountability, and you'll get your business to safety, far ahead of the rising tide.

Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without lousing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: www.heartofbusiness.com

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