Here’s a secret: you will always succeed if the contract is with yourself. It’s actionable. It’s within your control. You can hold yourself accountable. When you create a plan, pencil in that things may not go smoothly. Then, when you hit obstacles, acknowledge that those, too, were part of the plan. Then you can’t claim you’ve failed. The commitment doesn’t fall apart just because something is difficult or goes off course. Your standards change as you do.
