In the US, we celebrate Halloween in October. The tradition can be traced to a pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain. The modern-day version of this holiday is when kids dress up in (mostly scary) costumes and “trick or treat”. This means they go door to door in their neighborhoods asking for candy (treat) with the threat of performing some sort of mischief (trick) if they don’t get said treat.
I know what I’m about to say is wildly unpopular here in the US, but…. I hate Halloween. I hate being scared. I hate dressing up. I hate when my kids (and me!) eat too much sugar. And I hate the premise of teaching my kids it’s ok to beg for candy. And/or threaten a ‘trick’. I know, I know, call me the “Scrooge” of Halloween, but it’s just not my favorite holiday.
Until…
I am fortunate to have a group of amazing women that serve in a sort of roundtable Board of Advisors. We meet monthly. For these calls, we always have a theme or topic to center our discussions around. The theme for our upcoming call is a play on Trick or Treat. It’s called Ask or Offer – what’s one thing you don’t ask for enough but want to ask of the group or what’s one thing you can offer to the group?
It got me thinking. What do I not ask for? What could I offer that would be of value? Over the years, I have gotten a lot better at asking for things I need. I ask for help more often (although it’s still difficult) and I continue to get better at delegating. On the flip side, what could I possibly offer to this incredible group of women? (hello, inner critic!)
And then it hit me. Accountability.
I struggle with follow through on goals (and I know I’m not alone in this). If I set a goal in my own head but don’t share it with anyone, it’s super easy to let things slide. On a personal level, it’s so easy to hit the snooze button and not go to the gym in the morning if no one’s there to meet you. Or to let your healthy eating slide if no one knows you want to focus on correctly fueling your body. Professionally, it’s even easier. For example, I want to complete my coaching certification but that takes time and commitment. Time is a finite commodity that is easily shifted to the latest fire, priority, call, need, demand. And it’s easy to talk myself out of making that commitment because it would be….too much. Too much time away from my family, my job, my down time.
I hear this all the time from the alumni I talk to on an almost daily basis. Great plans fall through when there’s no accountability.
BUT, sharing your goals with someone, talking through the steps you’ll commit to and having regular check ins to ensure you’re staying on task? Well, that can only lead to greatness.
So, that’s what I’m going to ask and offer on my next Board of Advisors call. I’m going to ask for an accountability partner and offer myself as one so we can both continue our journeys towards greatness.
Halloween just got a whole lot better.
What about you? Do you have an accountability partner? Our Signature alumni get paired with someone during the program – are you still in touch with them? If not, what could you do with someone in your corner holding you accountable and cheering you on?
About the Author
Rebecca Callahan: Vice President, Signature Collective – Denver, CO
Rebecca joined Signature Leaders in August of 2022 as Vice President of the Signature Collective. She brings to the team more than two decades of experience in marketing, client management, operations, product, and sales. In her role with Signature Leaders, she is able to marry passion and purpose by developing and growing the Signature Collectives’ impact.
Prior to joining Signature Leaders, Rebecca was with Northstar Travel Group for almost ten years, serving in a variety of roles, always with focuses on client success and retention initiatives. Earlier in her career, she had the opportunity to work with multiple marketing agencies on strategic programs for a variety of clients and industries. Rebecca has a deep passion for understanding her clients’ pain points and then solving for them.
Rebecca received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her MBA, with an emphasis in Marketing and Corporate Strategy, from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
A native-born Floridian, Rebecca has always been a Coloradan, at heart, and she currently lives in Denver with her husband, two teenagers, and two crazy Labradors. When not thinking about how to expand and improve experiences for the Signature Collective, you will find her on the hiking trails in the summer and the ski slopes in the winter, and often with a great book in her hand.
