Investigating a new opportunity can be so daunting that we avoid doing it. I know I do. Part of my retirement journey, has been to follow different paths that look interesting, and to see if they hold possibilities for the next stage of my life. Most of this trip has been interesting and self-motivating. However, I’ve been avoiding one component that could be relevant to my journey. It’s a “box” I’ve been steering clear of for over a year now. It contains things that I don’t think I know anything about. I think it will be very tough to learn. It’s a box I keep walking around and trying to ignore.
Tell Someone Who Will Check-In With You
This week, I found a way to ensure that I finally open the box of opportunity and investigate its contents. I’m being held accountable for it. Sharing your goal with someone and then asking them to check-in with you after a period of time to see how you’re doing, is remarkably effective. It’s like the teacher asking if you did your homework. Just knowing that the teacher will ask to see it, is often enough of an incentive to complete the work.
By sharing your goal with someone you care about, you raise the likelihood to 65%. And when you ask that person to meet with you on a regular basis to check in, your probability of success skyrockets to 95%.*
by Diana Kander, Harvard Business Review
No Need Understand It All Immediately
I also reminded myself that I don’t have to know everything about this subject. I just need to take a look. How will I know if this box is for me, if I don’t at least look inside it?
What “boxes” are you avoiding because you think they will be too overwhelming?
- Getting more schooling?
- Moving to a new town?
- Opening a business?
- Writing a book?
Tell someone about it, and then ask them to hold you accountable for investigating the main steps involved. You may find that it’s not as difficult as you thought. There may be clear, small, steps that you feel are within your ability. But, if you discover it’s not for you, you can safely kick that box to the curb.
*https://hbr.org/2022/02/3-strategies-for-holding-yourself-accountable
Retired, And Now What? 
Thank you, again, Caroline. I so appreciate the things you write about. Maybe this blog could become a book. I’m serious.
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