Forget

Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions and thoughts. It means owning up to it when you have made a mistake. Plus, it means doing what you said you were going to do, and doing what you know needs to be done.

Being accountable is essential for success and living a life that you can be proud of. Whether this is in the workplace, at home, or in your relationships, accountability is essential. Living life this way will raise your self-esteem, allow your relationships to grow, and you’ll make progress toward your goals.

Not only is taking responsibility essential for yourself to, but it is also essential for those around you. It will be a perfect example for others to follow, and they will respect you more. Other people can’t push you to be this way. However, it is all up to you.

Sometimes it may seem easier to let things go or to blame someone else for your mistake. Doing this won’t get you anywhere, however. The next time you feel this way, remember these quotes about accountability, and you’ll feel back on track.

Fifteen Memorable Quotes About Accountability

1. “Be accountable for doing the right things. This means ethical execution of the activities that will actually support the goals you have chosen for yourself.” – Sam Silverstein

As Silverstein explains, as you work your way toward your goals, hold yourself accountable by being ethical. Getting to the top by doing wrong things will not keep you there for long. Plus, it’ll teach people that they shouldn’t trust you.

2. “Blame is the coward’s solution to his fear of accountability.” – Craig D. Lounsbrough

When someone is always blaming someone or something else, they lack responsibility. By taking the cowardly way out of a mistake, they are choosing to hinder their growth.

3. “My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” – Oprah Winfrey

You know what you should be doing right at this moment. Make sure you are doing the best thing you can that will set you up for the next big thing coming. One step leads to the future, and if they are all reasonable steps, you’ll be successful before you know it.

4. “Accountability separates the wishers in life from the action-takers that care enough about their future to account for their daily actions.” – John Di Lemme

Anyone can wish for a successful and happy future. Only those who hold themselves responsible for it are going to reach their goals, however. You have to be willing to get started and take action if you want to see progress.

This is something that needs to be done daily. Skipping out on what needs doing will only slow you down, whereas action will keep you on the right path.

5. “You are accountable for your actions, your decisions, your life; no one else is, but you.” – Catherine Pulsifer

The things that you do or say are your choices and no one else’s. Each decision you have made is the result of your own decisions, no matter how it turns out. You can’t place the blame on anyone or anything else, as you are the one who holds control of yourself.

6. “It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” – Moliere

You are responsible for things that didn’t get done, just as you are responsible for things you have done. When someone is counting on you to do something, you have to get it done on time. Otherwise, you won’t be living up to your responsibilities.

7. “People are more inclined to pass the buck than they are to take responsibility. The fact is, though, passing the buck doesn’t build your character or give you the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.” – Marshall Goldsmith

It’s easier to blame others than to admit to mistakes yourself. You can’t learn from your mistakes when you do that, however. It doesn’t give you a chance to grow and learn, and it can diminish your character.

8. “Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” -George Washington Carver

It can be easy to get in the habit of making excuses. When this happens, you’re excusing yourself for not getting things done that should have been. You are holding yourself back and causing yourself to fail.

9. “In reality, we all have our lives, and the accountability for the achievement of our dreams and goals falls strictly on our own shoulders.” – Thomas Matt

You are responsible for reaching your goals and making your life the way you always dreamed of. No one else can get you there, and no one else can be blamed if you don’t make it. You have to work hard to achieve your dreams, and that means always being responsible.

10. “Accountability is – first and foremost – about being reliable. To get a good picture of your personal accountability, you may want to periodically ask yourself, “Can people count on me to do what I say I’ll do, as I said I would do it?” – Henry J. Evans

When you tell someone you will do something, and you don’t do it, you aren’t reliable. This is something to consider when determining how accountable you are. If you find that people can’t count on you, then you need to work on being reliable all the time.

11. “We are all responsible and accountable for what we do or say even if those behaviors occur in stressful times.” – Byron Pulsifer

You can’t use stress as an excuse to do or say things that you don’t mean. Even in times of stress, you have to take responsibility and make a conscious effort to be a good person.

12. “It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” – Sir Josiah Stamp

If you take the easy way out, you have to accept the consequences of doing so. Whether those consequences are a failure or lack of progress, you have to deal with them no matter what.

If those consequences are something more significant, you still have to deal with that, too. When you think of it that way, it may be easier to just take care of your responsibilities the right direction.

13. “In life, we can have results or reasons. If you are not getting the results you want, your reasons are the lies that you keep telling yourself.” – Harald Anderson

The reasons that Anderson is referring to are just excuses. You can make a change in your life at any time. So, if you aren’t where you want to be, it’s on you, and you have to stop lying to yourself.

14. “Neither age nor experience matters when it comes to being personally accountable for any and all outcomes- no excuses whatsoever- be they positive or negative, nor shifting blame to other people or to external factors.” – Kory Livingstone

No matter how old you are or how experienced you are, you still have to take responsibility for yourself. As Livingstone explains, the outcomes of your decisions are on you, no matter what excuse you come up with. You can’t blame anyone else for what happens in your life, as you are the one in control.

15. “When accountability is present, people keep their eyes on a very clear prize. They know what they are working toward and how they are going to get there.” – Henry J. Evans

You have to know what you are working toward if you want to keep it in mind. Set a goal, even if it is a short-term one, and set your eyes on it. Make decisions every day that will help you get closer to the target.

Once you have achieved it, you can set a new goal for yourself. Or, you could just set one long-term goal and work on making that one. Whichever way you choose to do it, you must keep focused and stay active.

Final Thoughts on Quotes About Accountability Never to Forget

Everything that happens in your life is a direct result of your choices. This is why you must practice accountability every day. Each day when you wake up, you have to decide to take a step toward your goals.

If you do this, you will be sure to be successful in your endeavors. By taking responsibility for your life, you are ensuring no one else can mess things up for you. Placing blame on other people or events doesn’t help you reach your goals as it slows your growth.

Be responsible and do what needs to be done, and you can be sure to head down the right path. Remember these quotes the next time you feel like taking the easy way out, and you’ll be sure to hold yourself accountable instead.

Having written over 60 books, John Maxwell is a successful author who focuses on leadership and business.

In addition to writing books, John Maxwell is also a motivational speaker and inspirational leadership coach. He hosts events and offers one on one coaching, helping people to achieve success.

He strives to motivate and encourage others in their leadership journey. Sharing his wealth of information is essential to him, and he continues to serve others in this way.

Some of the books written by John Maxwell have been featured on the New York Times Best Seller Lists. Other books he has written have sold over one million copies. With these great achievements, it’s no so many others look to him for advice and tips.

Through his quotes, he shares what it takes to be great. No matter what point you are at in your life, you’ll find wisdom and guidance through the words of John Maxwell. Remember these quotes so that you can recall them when you need them the most.

John Maxwell Quotes

1. “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”

It’s essential to admit your mistakes when you recognize them. It’s also important to correct them and try to profit from them. Mistakes are learning opportunities, and if you keep pushing through, the next time will be better.

2. “The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.”

If you’ve failed at something, you can’t give up, or you’ll only be able to hope to be an average person. Achieving people, however, don’t give up when they’ve failed at something. They keep going and trying again until they get it right.

3. “Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.”

You can’t say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes your way. Turning down, some of the excellent opportunities is essential. Otherwise, you won’t have the time or energy for anything better.

If you want to be the best and be successful at what you do, you have to say ‘no’ sometimes. This decisiveness will allow room for better opportunities when they come along.

4. “Look at our society. Everyone wants to be thin, but nobody wants to diet. Everyone wants to live long, but few will exercise. Everybody wants money, yet seldom will anyone budget or control their spending.”

In our society today, people want things to come quickly. Most people don’t want to work for what they want or for what they think they deserve.

You have to be willing to sacrifice and work hard to achieve what you are after. Being hopeful, wishing, and dreaming will never get you to your goals. Only hard work, change, and sacrifice can get you there.

5. “People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude.”

It doesn’t matter what you say if your attitude doesn’t reflect your words. People can pick up on your vibes, no matter how well you try to hide them. If you want people to do as you say, you’ll have to portray a matching attitude.

So, if you are feeling a negative way, take some deep breaths and refocus before addressing others. This way, you can get in the right attitude to reflect your words.

6. “If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it – young or old, successful or less-than-successful, unknown or famous – is changed by it.”

A good leader understands that their team needs encouragement. It doesn’t matter their age or background, because everyone needs this positivity sometimes. Encouragement helps them see that they are capable and appreciated, which will make them keep trying harder.

7. “A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential.”

As the previous quote explained, everyone needs encouragement at times. Being encouraged can be life-changing for anyone. It can make all the difference no matter what part of life they need support.

The point is to help others reach their full potential. If you want them to be the best they can be and achieve great things, encouragement is necessary.

8. “Growth demands a temporary surrender of security. It may mean giving up familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, and relationships that have lost their meaning.”

If you want to feel comfortable at all times in your life, you will never grow. To grow, you need to give up that comfort so that you can explore new paths. You may have to make sacrifices, but it’ll all be worth it once you achieve your goals.

9. “There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self-respect. ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.”

Pride is often considered to be a bad quality to have. This statement isn’t entirely true, however, because good pride can be a positive force. As John Maxwell explains, it can reinforce your dignity and self-respect.

Bad pride, on the other hand, is just as negative as we’ve always been made to believe. It represents conceit and arrogance and can make others feel like you aren’t sincere.

10. “Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change. They are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision but flexible with your plan.”

Plans don’t always work out exactly as planned. This is why you should always have more than one method, because you may need to try a different idea.

Visions, however, shouldn’t ever change. If you are passionate about your dreams and goals, the view won’t change even when the plan does. You’ll just formulate a program that will help you reach the vision you’ve been dreaming of.

Don’t let anyone convince you to change your vision because your plan didn’t work out. Keep striving to be what you’ve always dreamed of despite the number of times you’ve failed in your pursuit.

11. “Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.”

To be a good leader, you have to be able to relate to those around you. It’s equally important to remember that you aren’t their peer. You have to be ahead of them at all times so that you can motivate them for what’s yet to come.

If you aren’t ahead, you won’t know what’s coming. Without that knowledge, you won’t be able to motivate others because you haven’t been there yet.

12. “As a leader, the first person I need to lead is me. The first person that I should try to change is me.”

While you may think that a leader’s primary goal is to lead and change others, this isn’t the case. You first have to drive yourself to get ahead of the rest. Then, you have to change yourself to be the leader that you need to be.

No matter what the change is, it will always start with you—trying to lead others when you aren’t ahead or when you haven’t made the necessary changes won’t work. You still have to start with yourself before you can begin on others.

13. “The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.”

If you are continually blaming your attitude on other people or events, you have some work to do. You are responsible for your perspective, whether it is negative or positive. When you realize this, you’ll be happier, more successful, and more grown-up than before.

14. “The unsuccessful person is burdened by learning and prefers to walk down familiar paths. Their distaste for learning stunts their growth and limits their influence.”

It’s easy to take a leisurely, well-known path in life. To grow, however, you have to learn and explore new options. If you don’t want to learn and try something new, you won’t grow, and you have limited yourself.

15. “Good leaders must communicate vision clearly, creatively, and continually. However, the vision doesn’t come alive until the leader models it.”

Communicating your expectations and visions to your team is essential when you are a leader. You also have to model it. Your team won’t get the necessary work done if they don’t see you shaping your vision.

Final Thoughts on John Maxwell Quotes Never to Forget

As a successful author and businessman, John Maxwell offers sound advice through his quotes. He provides motivation, ideas, and tips to help you along your journey.

You can apply these quotes to any areas of your life, and it will help you be better and achieve success. Before you know it, you’ll be leading others and motivating them in the same way these quotes helped you.

The ultimate goal of adults is to reach their goals, and there are many quotes on success to help motivate you. When faced with challenges, it may be easy to quit or lose momentum. That is when it’s most important to keep moving, however.

By listening to advice and encouragement from those who have been through it, you’ll find comfort and motivation. The main piece of advice, though, is to never quit trying and to keep persevering.

You are the only one who can set the level of your successes. Go after what you want and work hard to reach your goals.

15 Quotes on Success Never to Forget

These quotes on success will help you stay motivated as you strive to achieve your dreams.

1. “If you don’t value your time, neither will others. Stop giving away your time and talents. Value what you know & start charging for it.” – Kim Garst

Once you make it clear that your talents and time are worthwhile, others will treat it that way. You can’t do things for free just because someone is your family member or friend. To be successful, you must know what you are worth and expect others to pay you for what you do.

2. “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” – Fred Rogers

All of the money in the world won’t make you successful if you aren’t kind. You have to have people on your side, and you have to treat people with kindness to get them there. Even if you feel like you don’t need anyone on your side, you have to be kind to bring in business.

No matter which way you look at it, kindness is required. You may start to build an empire without kindness, but it won’t reach its full potential.

3. “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi

Even with strength and knowledge, a person can fail. Everyone fails at some point, and the determining factor to success is having the will power to try again. Only then will you be able to reach your ultimate goals.

4. “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.” – Zig Ziglar

You may not have all the tools to make a job easy right away, but keep trying with what you do have. When you keep trying, you’ll find yourself succeeding with what you already have. Plus, true success is about the process, not what the outcome is.

You set your standards for success, not anyone else. If you accomplished what you set out to do, you have succeeded. Likewise, if you are proud of yourself for the work along the way, you’ve also succeeded.

5. “The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.” – Mark Caine

You can’t blame your surroundings for your failures or your lack of progress. Leave the environment that you are in if it is that toxic. Otherwise, get started on your goals and remind yourself that you are the only one holding you back.

6. “Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost legendary. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge

All the talent, genius, and education in the world can’t ensure that you reach your goals. The only thing that can ensure you get there is perseverance and determination. With perseverance and determination, you are sure to reach the ultimate goal.

You have to remain motivated and keep trying even after failures. Keep pushing yourself to learn more and do more, and to keep trying even when faced with adversity.

7. “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie

Everyone fails at some point in their life. Most people fail more than once. Successful people are the ones who get back up and try again, though.

You can’t give up when faced with mistakes or when things didn’t go as planned. These are opportunities to grow and learn. Then, you’ll be able to get it right the next time, or the time after that.

8. “Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.” – Charles F. Kettering

Just when you want to give up, you may get your big break. Keep going, learning, and trying, and eventually, you’ll stumble upon your dreams.

9. “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” – David Brinkley

Other people may want to see you fail, and they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that it happens. Don’t let them succeed at knocking you down or hurting you. Instead, take all of the negativity they throw your way and use it as your stepping stones.

10. “There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.” – Ray Goforth

When you are faced with a negative person as Goforth describes, ignore them. Better yet, listen to them and then do everything they said you couldn’t.

11. “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn

You have to decide what you want your life to look like. Figure out the goals that you want to reach, and then determine how to reach them. Otherwise, you’ll have to work towards someone else’s goal, and that won’t do much for you.

12. “Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism.” – David M. Burns

You’ll never be perfect, but you will be successful. If you were never wrong and things always worked out perfectly, you would never learn from them. Learning is essential to being successful because you have to keep working toward a higher goal.

As Burns explains, perfectionism is only a sign of fear. Don’t hold yourself back by being afraid. Keep moving forward, even when the plan didn’t work out how you intended.

13. “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – From an Apple Computer Ad, 1997

Those who are most successful weren’t afraid of being different or being the first to do something. They knew what they wanted and they did what they had to do to get it. Most often, they seemed like they didn’t fit in just right.

If this is you, then you completely understand how different it was to be that person. Those are successful people. They are the ones who are willing to speak up, make a change, and better the world. Despite those who disagree with them, they continue going until they are successful.

14. “After every difficulty, ask yourself two questions: “What did I do right?” and “What would I do differently?” –  Brian Tracy

You can learn from every moment in your life, whether it was good or bad. Reflecting is one key to success because it enables you to make changes and do better next time. Always find at least one thing you did right, and then determine what could have been done differently.

15. “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” – Mark Victor Hansen

Things will never be perfect, and there will never be the perfect time to get started. Obstacles and challenges are everywhere, but you have to push through it all. You’ll become stronger and more able to handle what is coming next.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Success Never to Forget

These quotes on success should never be forgotten, as they can motivate you when you need it the most. When things get hard and don’t seem to be working out, remember these quotes and reference them for advice.

You are responsible for your success, and the comments and actions of others should play no part. Focus on your determination and perseverance and never give up. Tuck away these quotes on success for continued motivation. And, keep working towards your goals and you will find yourself successful.

Forget Something? 5 Business Needs That Fall Between the Cracks

Although 80% of all new businesses survive their first years, many small businesses struggle for their first few years of operation. One of the biggest reasons why companies have to shut their doors for good is a lack of adequate preparation.

Sure, you may have the office, the staff, and the right attitude. But do you have everything you need to succeed?

Before you answer, make sure you’re not missing out on these five important business needs.

1. Market Research

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. To compete to your fullest capabilities, you’ll need to gain a better understanding of how the market is performing and what your competition is up to.

Unfortunately, a lot of business owners get so caught up in the excitement of starting their company that they forget to do conduct this important research.

It might mean more work on your part or outsourcing to a firm who can conduct market research for you, but having research-backed evidence to enhance your marketing strategies can save you a ton of money in the long run.

2. Funding for Work Materials

New talent means new revenue! At least, in theory.

Bringing on new talent also means new expenses, such as desks, chairs, computers, software, and onboarding training.

The average cost-per-hire for a single employee comes out to around $4,129. It’s a lot, and if you’re not careful, these costs can catch you off guard.

3. Data Security

Handling a digital presence is a huge part of operating a modern business. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, going digital is more convenient and reduces paper costs and waste. But on the other, it’s all too easy for someone to steal your company’s data.

One of the first things you should invest in is managed IT services. An IT firm can spot any potential threats, update your data security protocol, and keep your business running smoothly.

Data breaches can cost thousands of dollars in recovery fees. But worse, it can shake the confidence of your customers, resulting in lost revenue.

4. Reputation Management

Speaking of digital presences, don’t forget to take advantage of online listing services. Sites like Google My Business and Yelp are a great way to organically spread the word about your business and make for a great supplement to your social media efforts.

Keep an eye on the conversation surrounding your business. What people say can have a big impact on others’ opinions.

5. Talent Management

A business is only as successful as its employees. It’s important to take care of your staff, whether you’re overseeing a handful of workers or an entire organization.

Give adequate time off, promote growth within the company, and create an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up.

Don’t Ignore These Business Needs

Forgetting even one of these important business needs can lower the chances of your success. Make sure you follow these tips and implement these strategies.

And if you’re looking for more info about running your own business, make sure to check back with our blog!