I am pretty big on tough love, and not letting people get away with making bull crap excuses.

But even I understand that if the only way a person will consistently do something is if someone else is on their case, all the time, they’re NEVER gonna stick with it.

The reason I’m bringing this up is because some people are drawn to Code Red because they’re convinced they “need yelled at.”

From where I’m sitting, that is victimhood through and through. It’s expecting someone else to carry the burden of whether or not you succeed.

That is your responsibility. No one else’s.

Does it mean you won’t or shouldn’t get support, or have people around who’ll help you stay accountable?

No, it does not mean that. I’ve worked with coaches for years, and reaped the benefits, so I absolutely believe in coaching.

But if I work with a coach, it’s not with the expectation they’ll do the work for me. I know I’ve gotta do my part.

It’s the same with you. You’ve gotta do your part, because if you don’t, here’s what happens.

• – If you get any results, they’ll be temporary.

• – You’ll blame your coach for your lack of will to follow their instructions.

• – You’ll end up right back where you started, except feeling even more hopeless and powerless, simply because no one else could “make” you do what you wanted to do.

I know NONE of that is what you really want.

So yes, reach out for help and support. Join a challenge. Get in a Code Red coaching group. Find an accountability buddy.

But don’t do any of it with the intention of making other people responsible for whether or not you act (which is exactly what you’re doing when you say “I need to get yelled at”).

YOU are responsible for you. Only you can choose to follow the program and the instructions. Only you can choose to get it together if a coach or your accountability buddy calls out a bull crap excuse.

They cannot “make” you do it.

If all that sounds deflating, here’s another way to look at it.

When you take responsibility for your actions (or lack of thereof), you’ve just taken the first step to gaining control of your life and getting where you wanna be.

See, it’s EMPOWERING to flip that switch. And you can decide to flip it anytime!

So it’s clear: Beating yourself up isn’t what I mean by taking responsibility. Emotionally punishing yourself is the same as needing someone else to “yell at” you. It won’t help.

Take ownership of your actions and the results you wanna achieve. Get support and accountability to help you offset the stories you’re telling yourself about why you can’t. Then do your part to make it happen cap’n. I KNOW you’re capable of it!