You’re 95% More Likely To Achieve Your Goals If…
We all have dreams, ambitions, things we’d like to do, change, or create in our lives.
Sometimes, years go by and things are still the same, whether it’s at work, a hobby you’ve still not picked up, or a pattern of behaviour that’s been on repeat.
Most people don’t follow through on their goals - not because they’re lazy or undisciplined, but because they try to do it alone.
The Study That Changed the Way We Think About Accountability
In 2015, the Association for Talent Development (ATD) conducted a study to find out just how much accountability affects our chances of success. They tracked people with goals and compared different levels of commitment and follow-through.
The Study
They compared different conditions:
Just having an idea/goal.
Deciding to do it.
Deciding when to do it.
Planning how to do it.
Committing to someone else that you’ll do it.
Having a specific accountability appointment with that person.
The Results
Here’s what they discovered:
Just having an idea or goal: 10% chance of success
Deciding you’ll do it: 25%
Deciding when you’ll do it: 40%
Planning how you’ll do it: 50%
Committing to someone else: 65%
Scheduling an accountability check-in with that person: 95%
That last number is astonishing: when people had a regular accountability appointment, their chances of achieving their goal skyrocketed to 95%.
Why Accountability Works
Accountability works because it does two powerful things:
It makes your commitment real. When you tell someone else about your goal, it moves from being a private thought to a public promise. Suddenly, it matters more.
It keeps you moving. A regular check-in means you can’t just “forget” or make excuses. You know someone will ask - and that pushes you to take action, even when motivation is low.
It’s the same principle behind personal trainers, study groups, or weight-loss programs. The structure and support make it much harder to drift off course.
How to Build Accountability Into Your Life
Here are some practical ways to use this insight:
Find an accountability partner. Share your goals with a friend or colleague and agree to check in weekly.
Join a group. Communities with shared focus create powerful collective momentum.
Schedule your check-ins. Don’t just vaguely say “I’ll keep you updated.” Put it on the calendar.
Combine it with reflection. Use each check-in to look at what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next.
Accountability + Community = Evergreen Growth
This is the principle behind The Evergreen Gatherings. Every month, aligned with the New Moon, we meet as a small online circle to:
Share the goals we’re working on
Use hypnosis to see our challenges in a new light
Create clear, actionable steps
Hold each other accountable
It’s not about pressure - it’s about support, encouragement, and a space where progress becomes natural.
If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent with your goals, accountability might be the missing ingredient.
Click here to join the next Evergreen Session.
I hope to see your there.
David
Evergreen Hypnotherapy
Let’s grow together. 🌱
