Why Accountability Matters More Than Motivation
So many business owners set goals with the best intentions. Vision boards get created, notebooks fill up with plans, and January starts with real momentum. But a few weeks later, those goals often begin to fade.
In this episode of the This Mum Loves Tech podcast, I’m joined by Toni Addinall, an accountability strategist who helps business owners bridge the gap between setting goals and actually achieving them.
Toni explains that accountability is often misunderstood and that misunderstanding is exactly why so many people feel stuck.
“Accountability absolutely isn’t a punishment. It’s about understanding what’s getting in the way.”
Rather than being about pressure or guilt, accountability is about clarity, alignment and realistic action.
What Accountability Really Is (and What It Isn’t)
Toni shared that accountability often gets reduced to either self-blame or surface-level check-ins, neither of which truly help business owners move forward.
She explains that real accountability means:
- Understanding why something hasn’t happened
- Identifying barriers and limiting beliefs
- Making sure actions actually align with the goal
“It’s not about blame or excuses. It’s about understanding what’s really stopping you.”
Without that reflection, many people keep repeating the same patterns month after month.
Why To-Do Lists Can Work Against You
One of the most eye-opening parts of the conversation was Toni’s take on to-do lists. While they can be helpful for clearing your head, she explained why they often fail as a planning tool.
“A to-do list isn’t a plan.”
When big projects like “create a sales page” sit on a list without being broken down, they become overwhelming and unrealistic. By the end of the day, business owners feel like they’ve failed, even when they’ve been busy all day.
Instead, Toni encourages breaking goals into specific actions, assigning time realistically and planning based on energy, not just availability.
Action, Energy and Timing Matter
Another key theme from the episode was energy. Toni explained that it’s not enough to know what actions you need to take, you also need to know when you’re best placed to take them.
Whether that’s scheduling conversations earlier in the day or blocking focused time when your energy is highest, accountability helps create a structure that actually fits real life.
“There’s always a way to create a structure that fits the individual.”
That flexibility is what makes accountability sustainable, especially for business owners balancing work, family and everything in between.
Why Support Makes All the Difference
We also talked about how hard it can be to reflect honestly when you’re working alone. Without someone to challenge assumptions or help you see what’s realistic, it’s easy to either push too hard or give up too quickly.
Accountability brings perspective, encouragement and momentum. And once a goal is achieved, that confidence often carries into bigger and better things.
“The moment you hit a goal, it creates motivation and momentum to move forward.”
Want Ongoing Support to Turn Your Goals Into Action?
If this episode resonated and you’re tired of setting goals without seeing progress, this is exactly the kind of support we focus on inside the This Mum Loves Tech Membership.
It’s where you’ll find:
- Weekly tech and business support
- Expert-led masterclasses
- A community of business owners who understand the juggle
- Help turning plans into action without overwhelm
👉 The membership is £30 a month. Find out more and join here: https://thismumlovestech.co.uk/membership/
Connect with Toni Addinall, Accountability Strategist:
Get Toni’s CARE framework here
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