Here is where we are today.

There is where we want to be in the future.

Here is your present reality.

There is your desired future state. Your goal.

Where are you today, and where would you like to be in the future?

Do you need to be more specific? For example, rather than 'lose weight,' a better goal would be to lose 20 pounds, 3 months from now. Or, rather than 'get a new job,' a better goal would be to secure 30 job interviews by a particular date.

Who is going to help you accomplish this goal? A big part of doing anything hard, is having an appropriate structure for accountability in place.

List the people that you will be working with to bring this goal to life. Describe how they will help.

These people will be participating in this journey with you, and you can form a network of mutual support.

The group you put together is so important. We need relationship for fuel.

List the people in your life whose cooperation and support you may need in order to be successful.

These people may not be working towards the same goal as you, but they will still play a crucial function in helping you get there.

In as much detail as you need to get clarity in your own mind, describe what your strategy will be to achieve your goal.

Remember the difference that Henry explained between a strategy and a plan.

The strategy is the way, and the plan is the steps.

In as much detail as you need to get clarity in your own mind, describe what your plan will be, in order to realize the strategy that you are using to reach your goal.

Remember the difference that Henry explained between a strategy and a plan.

The strategy is the way, and the plan is the steps.

Another way to think about the plan, is to think of the activities, tasks, and drivers that will move the needle.

What activities, on which dates, how often, with who, by when?

Now let's bring your accountability group into the process.

How are you going to hold each other accountable to the plan?

Write as much as you can here, but also make sure that you discuss this when you meet as a group.

Let's stick with your accountability group for the next few questions.

What are the values of your accountability group? Discuss these. Henry talks about the requirement that we be positive and encouraging, but also honest and frank. He discusses that we must welcome feedback.

Discuss how you are going to operate with each other.

Write as much as you can here, but also make sure that you discuss this when you meet as a group.

What is the appropriate dosage for accountability among your group?

Remember what Henry said about the person taking antibiotics. The antibiotics are the strategy, the dosage is the plan, defeating the infection is the goal.

So, what volume and frequency will you need in the accountability department to make sure that you are getting enough support, encouragement, and feedback.

Write as much as you can here, but consider that there may be more to discuss about this when you meet as a group.

Shifting gears to focus on any boundaries that may need to be set.

Do you need to set any boundaries around any competing goals, or any goals which would interfere with this goal?

Henry uses the example of the person who wants to be the top sales person, but also wants to be present at every dinner and soccer practice. Sometimes these goals are not compatible.

Do you need to set any boundaries around any particular weaknesses that you are aware of in yourself?

For example, maybe you know that you will likely struggle with one aspect of your plan (getting up early, perhaps). Could you safeguard against this by asking an accountability group member who IS a morning person to give you a call on those days? Or even better, to meet up early? A little bit of positive social pressure could help.

Maybe you are sensitive to criticism, and you need to let people know how you would like feedback to be delivered so that you will not feel overwhelmed, hurt, and discouraged by someone's honest attempt to support you.

As a last question, and this is a sensitive one, how can you set a boundary against 'failing poorly?'

These are boundaries that will protect you from feeling discouraged when you slip, come up short, or fail.

Failure is a natural part of trying anything hard. How we manage these setbacks determines the outcome.

Part of this will come from your mindset, and part of it will come from a group.

Describe the boundaries you will set to 'fail well.'

And remember, the difference between 'winners' and 'losers' isn't that those 'winners' have never failed... it's that they have failed well, and learned, whereas the 'losers' didn't, and gave up.

Any final notes you'd like to add?