Accountability Over Knowledge: How to Stop Procrastinating and Take Action
Why More Knowledge Isn’t the Answer
Most people run away from accountability and run towards more knowledge.
Knowledge without action is procrastination. The problem with knowledge is that it gives an illusion of progress, but it never brings transformation.
The only way to see change, whether that’s immediate or long-term change, is through action.
And the only way to take consistent action, that has the power to change you, is through accountability.
Accountability can come from several places:
- It can come from your own convictions or values
- It can come from a spouse or a friend
- It can come from social accountability
- It can come from a coach, a program, or something you’ve invested in (whether time, money, or both)
- It should come from systems and tracking
The Hidden Cost of Procrastinating With Podcasts and Plans
Acquiring more knowledge feels good.
I hid behind the ‘more knowledge is better’ trap for a lot of years.
I remember the early days of social media and podcasts (before ads were everywhere and when you actually saw the posts and content that you wanted to).
It was a whole new world of having access to some of the best and brightest minds in the world. As someone relatively newer to the health and fitness industry, this was life changing. Years of book knowledge and decades of experience were compiled into easy to understand concepts.
I remember even further back to online bodybuilding articles, magazines, and gathering more ‘bro science’ from the guys at the gym that could lift more weight than I could.
This wasn’t the highest quality of knowledge, I’m sure some of it made me worse off (especially the bro science), but a lot of it saved me the time and frustration of trying everything on my own.
Knowledge can shortcut your journey, but only up to a certain point.
There is diminishing returns to knowledge.
Initially, it’s necessary.
But before long, it becomes dangerous.
There came a point when I had enough information to take action. Yet I continued to feel I needed a little bit more. I needed to find a better program, a better diet, or a more knowledgeable person to learn from.
These were all excuses and procrastination from actually doing the work.
While knowledge saved me many years in the beginning, it cost me many years in the end.
The more I hid behind learning, the more comfortable I got with gathering knowledge, and the less comfortable I got with taking necessary actions to truly change.
Why Modern Men Are Struggling to Take Action
I believe there are many things contributing to why men have gotten soft:
- Comfort and convenience
- Social norms
- Technology
- No clear standard or values to live up to
Above all, I think a lack of accountability is at the root of soft men.
You don’t have to walk around with a six pack, beard, and puff your chest up everywhere you go to be more masculine.
No external things will make you more masculine. It comes from consistent discipline, integrity, and accountability.
Let’s take fitness as an example.
While you don’t have to look like a gladiator to be more masculine, you should have a standard for your health that you live up to.
There is some individuality with this, but you should at the very least:
- Have a general level of physical preparedness. This would involve having sufficient strength, mobility, and conditioning required to protect your family
- Eat in a way that honors your body. This means eating the right quantities of food, eating a higher quality of food, and having self-control with food and drink
- Get quality sleep. Staying up late and/or waking up excessively early is not a badge of honor, and won’t keep you in the game for very long
You can (and probably should) have higher standards than that. That’s just an absolute bare minimum standard for an average man.
If you can’t do these things, start there. You don’t need any more knowledge to start moving your body and exercising, eating better, and getting consistent sleep.
Most men reading this want more than the bare minimum. So why are so many men falling short of the standard they’re trying to live up to?
They lack accountability. They hide behind things like:
- Following a self-guided program or workout plan
- Following a diet or style of eating that ignores food quality or quantities
- Hiding behind technology or justifying why they don’t need real interactions or conversations with other men
- Thinking more knowledge is the answer. Another podcast, program, or diet plan
Until men truly hold themselves accountable, nothing will change.
If you don’t want it bad enough, you’ll run away from accountability and chase more information instead.
If you want it bad enough, accountability will still scare you…but you’ll know it’s necessary to reach your next level.
The accountability to action bridge
How you choose to stay accountable isn’t the main issue.
Living a lifestyle of accountability is the issue.
Remember the problem with knowledge. It’s simply a facade of progress. Trying to learn your way being more accountable isn’t going to change you.
5 Simple Ways to Start Holding Yourself Accountable
- Just start. You don’t need more information to get started. What’s one thing you know you should be doing, that you’re not currently doing? Do that for 30 days straight before learning or implementing anything else.
- Just stop. What’s one thing you continue to read about or research that is causing procrastination or analysis paralysis? Stop doing this, it’s simply wasting energy and moving you further from your goals.
- Build systems. Don’t rely on willpower, which will wear off as motivation fades. Have systems and habits in place that make your actions non-negotiable. This could be working out at the same time, meal prepping, or setting a bed time alarm to remind yourself to get to sleep on time.
- Track something. In the long run, you want to be tracking the right things. But to start, just track something. Track anything. Log your workouts and how much weight you lift. Track your calories. Wear a step or sleep tracker to give you data that you can actually see. It’s impossible to be accountable if you don’t have anything your tracking.
- Don’t hide. Seek real accountability. It’s scary, but it’s the only way to grow. Social media relationships don’t count. Get together with another man in person, on the phone, or on zoom…regularly. Get to the gym or grab a workout partner. Tell someone what your goals are, and actually have them check in with you. If they forget update them on your progress anyways. Hiding behind good intentions will keep you stuck. Real relationships will unlock your next level.
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You don’t need to have it perfect or have it all figured out.
You don’t even need the next 3 steps figured out.
If you know what the next step is, just take that one.
Right now. Not tomorrow.
If you’re unsure of what the next step is when it comes to transforming your body, I’ve put together a whole playbook that you can follow for free. Reply to any one of those emails and let me know what your goals are so I can hold you accountable.
If you’re ready to throw out all the excuses, and work with a coach that will give you a clear plan and hold you accountable, fill out a coaching form and we’ll set up a time to talk.
Whatever your next step is…
Tell someone. Then go get started.
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