On Accountability

Wherever I worked I always went above and beyond. Its just how I’m wired. My first manager, Mark, said that I cared too much. He was quite right at the time as when I was there I sweated the small stuff. However, I really honestly cared about providing the best possible service, even at McDonald’s. It is also not uncommon for me to essentially create another position from my above and beyond efforts at my various employers.

Given this pattern I figured starting a company would be easy. (Okay, not easy, but something that I could do. Anyone who tells you starting your own company is easy hasn’t done it.)

I realized that in my startup structure, I had failed to identify one key ingredient in my previous successes: Being accountable to someone else.

While going above and beyond at previous positions wasn’t literally in my job description, once I had made a commitment to do a given task (be it to a customer, coworker, or vendor) I would get it done. This isn’t to say that at times I struggled with those tasks or procrastinated on them, (Oh I procrastinated, trust me, I did.) but the power of having made a commitment to someone and having that accountability to push me is extremely powerful.

When I go after starting a company again the first task will be to find a co-founder. I was having a conversation with another entrepreneur, and he said he didn’t understand how solo entrepreneurship worked; sometimes he needed the kick in the ass and motivation that another person can give. I found that incredibly gratifying have my struggles as a solo entrepreneur validated.