Why You Need a Stalker

Being as productive as possible requires more than self-discipline, more than a great task manager, or even an amazing accountability partner. Sometimes you actually need a stalker.

Photo Credit: Digiart2001 | jason.kuffer

No, I’m not talking about the creepy stalkers that end up on the nightly news. I’m talking about accountabili-stalkers.

Awesome made up word, right?

Who are these accountabili-stalkers? Let’s find out.

Why You Need a Stalker

If I followed you around for a day, what would you do differently?

That was the question posed to me in the first personal development book I ever read. John Maxwell, who has written more than 70 books, told me that he would follow me around for 24 hours, watching my every move.

Needless to say, I was a little freaked out. He then said that he would not judge my actions, but simply ask me to reflect on those 24 hours.

What would I have done differently?

How would I have responded?

Would I have been more productive, made better decisions, or upped my game?

I put the book down and thought about this for a while. If the super-successful and highly productive John Maxwell followed me around for a full day, I would absolutely act differently and I would likely get more done than ever!

I would not waste a single second.

I would make sure to impress him, to even make him jealous of my abilities to use my time wisely and truly dominate my day.

Then it hit me, that’s what I should be doing anyway.

I don’t need a literal John Maxwell stalker following me around every day, guilting me into doing the right thing.

What I did need was my own accountabili-stalker. I needed a force to push me when I wouldn’t push myself. I needed a higher bar to shoot for and a reason to use my time wisely.

Flashback to the 90s

WWJD bracelets were hot in the 1990s. Lots of people wore them. I didn’t even go to church back then or have any religious affiliation, but I wore one.

Those bracelets (standing for What Would Jesus Do?) were designed for Christians, to remind them to make better choices, ones that Jesus himself would likely make if he were in the same situation.

Wearing a bracelet with an acronym on it is hardly an accountability strategy, unless it means something to you. If those four words conjure up something inside you that otherwise would not be there, then there’s a reason (even for guy like me) to sport a bracelet.

Design Your Own Bracelet

On my vision board in my home office I have a series of inspirational quotes from a few very smart and successful people. I chose these quotes specifically to remind me to be my better self — to work hard when I feel like giving up — and to push when I just can’t imagine pushing any longer.

I have many accountabili-stalkers in my life, and those quotes are one them. John Maxwell was one of them. Now, Jesus is one of them.

I use all of these accountabili-stalkers at different intervals and seasons of my life to push to become the highest and best version of myself, leaning on whatever source I can to help me reach my next level of success, achievement, and significance.

That’s what an accountabili-stalker can do for you.

When you imagine someone watching your every move, it provides real context to your actions. You naturally think differently, act differently, and likely make more positive choices than you would alone.

Now, you can design your own bracelet, build your own vision board, or find your own creepy John Maxwell.

Simply find what speaks to you and use that wisdom to grow into your best self.

Next Week

Next week on the blog I will be sharing a strategy to think on purpose to get unique and powerful results.