Let me tell you a little story that might sound familiar.

You may have noticed that I consistently release this newsletter/blog weekly. But trust me, I was not always so consistent. When I first started blogging, I had a goal to write a blog—just one blog a week. That’s it. I launched strong, full of passion and momentum. "This is it," I told myself. I even had a list of things I wanted to talk about every week.  But then life got busy. Other priorities crept in. I skipped one week, then two. Before I knew it, the blog was collecting dust—and I was collecting some serious guilt. I even considered myself a failure.

If the blog wasn’t enough to teach me a few lessons, the same thing happened with my last book. I had the vision in my head. The message was clear. I could see the cover. I knew the audience. But every time I sat down to write, I’d freeze—or tell myself I needed a full hour to make any real progress. And when that uninterrupted hour never came, I’d move my deadline. Again. And again.

It was frustrating. I felt like I was letting myself down. My motivation would come in waves—high energy on Monday, complete avoidance by Wednesday.

Has this happened to you? There’s a good explanation for why you may not be following through. The missing ingredient? Accountability.

Lack of accountability and motivation often stems from:

1. No External Pressure: When there’s no deadline or expectation from others, it’s easy to put things off. Without external accountability, tasks that are important but not urgent get pushed aside.
2. Lack of Structure: A clear roadmap and step-by-step guidance make all the difference. Without structure, people get overwhelmed and don’t know where to start—or how to keep going.
3. The Initial Excitement Wears Off: Starting something new feels great! But as the excitement fades, self-doubt creeps in, distractions arise, and motivation dwindles.
4. Perfectionism and Fear: Some people hesitate to put themselves out there because they feel their work isn't "good enough" yet. This leads to procrastination and, ultimately, inaction. We have already talked about this fear in another newsletter.
5. Competing Priorities: Life gets busy! Between work, family, and other responsibilities, personal projects often take a backseat—especially if no one is checking in on your progress.

In my own life, in order to overcome these challenges I needed a mindset shift.

Mother Theresa once said, “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” There is a lot of truth to this. First of all I started by giving myself permission to change the way I measured success. Instead of setting this giant goal—“Write a book”—I made a smaller one: Write for 30 minutes a day, Monday through Friday. That felt doable. And you know what? It was.

Suddenly, I wasn’t waiting for that perfect hour that never came. I was actually writing. And more than that, I started to feel good about showing up for myself. But I knew I still needed more than a schedule—I needed accountability.

I’ve seen firsthand how accountability and motivation are the secret sauce to getting things done. It’s not enough to simply have knowledge; you need a plan, a structure, and sometimes, a community that holds you to your commitment. 

If you struggle with accountability and motivation, don’t worry! There are proven strategies to help you follow through:

1. Find an Accountability Partner or Group

Having someone check in on your progress makes all the difference. Whether it's a friend, mentor, or mastermind group, knowing someone expects results from you keeps you on track.

2. Set Clear Deadlines

Deadlines create urgency. Instead of saying, "I'll launch my course someday," set a specific date. Mark it on your calendar. Better yet, announce it publicly! The pressure of others expecting it can keep you motivated.

3. Work in Phases (Small Wins Matter!)

Breaking large tasks into smaller, manageable steps makes progress feel attainable. Instead of saying, "I need to write my entire book," set a goal to complete one chapter a week.

4. Hire a Coach or Join a Program

Many people recognize that they need external support to stay accountable. A coach or a structured program provides the guidance, encouragement, and deadlines necessary to keep moving forward.

5. Surround Yourself with Motivated People

Motivation is contagious. When you’re in a community of others working toward similar goals, it keeps you inspired and engaged. Being around action-takers pushes you to take action as well.

6. Shift Your Mindset: Done is Better than Perfect

Perfectionism is a motivation killer. Remind yourself that progress is more important than perfection. You can always refine your work as you go, but you must start.

7. Make It a Habit, Not a Hustle

When teaching and creating content feel like an uphill battle, it’s hard to stay consistent. Instead, build a habit around it—schedule time to work on it just as you would any other responsibility.

So, I found an accountability partner.

We checked in weekly, shared wins, vented about the hard days, and encouraged each other to keep going. Then I joined a mastermind group with others who were also working on content. Being surrounded by people who were moving in the same direction was like putting a battery in my back. I felt energized again.

And let me tell you—the little competition we had in that class? That helped too. A bit of healthy pressure to meet our weekly writing goal? Yes please! Sometimes we need that extra push.

It not just worked for me but it has also worked for my clients. When we surround ourselves with someone who understands our struggle,  who has similar goals and are in a supportive environment, it can be a game changer when it comes to accountability.

Motivation Is Unreliable—Accountability Is Not

Overall, throughout my content creation journey, here’s what I learned: motivation comes and goes. It’s emotional. It’s tied to energy, mood, and a million other factors. But accountability? That’s structure. It’s support. It’s someone saying, "Hey, I believe in what you're building—how’s it going?"

And that changes everything.

How Pearls Perfected Helps You Stay On Track

At Pearls Perfected Institute, we don’t just hand you a course and wish you luck. We’ve built in accountability from day one:

✔️ Weekly check-ins
✔️ Live classes with built-in structure
✔️ Mastermind-style community
✔️ Supportive instructors and peers who actually notice if you disappear

You won’t just start—you’ll finish. And not because you suddenly became someone new, but because you finally had the support, structure, and encouragement you needed to stay consistent.

Let’s Talk Real Talk—Is This You?

Have you been putting off teaching what you know because your motivation fades and no one’s checking in?

✋🏾 If so, I see you. I was you.

But you don’t have to stay stuck. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to take action, this is it! Stop pushing your goals to the side. Whether it’s launching a course, writing a book, or simply sharing your knowledge in a meaningful way, accountability is the key to making it happen.

At Pearls Perfected Institute, we don’t just believe in your expertise—we help you bring it to life. If you’re ready to stop procrastinating and start creating, let’s break the cycle and build something together—one small, consistent step at a time.

📩 Hit reply and tell me: What’s one goal you keep starting and stopping?

 Let’s talk about how to get it done—for real this time.

Blessings,

Dr. Janice R. Love
Founder Pearls Perfected Institute