The foundation of a productive work day is often accountability. Being accountable to someone for what you produce can tip the scales between doing and not doing. The thing is that when we work for ourselves we often think that we are not accountable and that can really be detrimental to our productivity and our business success. Suddenly it's easy to goof off instead of focusing on our work. It's easy to do the easy things and let the harder things, the things we don't want to do, fall by the wayside. Of course the problem is that those are often the things that need to be done to make our business succeed. So it's a quandary, the silent issue in work at home success.

ARE YOU OR AREN'T YOU? The thing that most of us forget is that even if there is no one looking over our shoulder or telling us what to do, we are always accountable. We are accountable for every little thing that we do to bring our business ahead because it's the little things that we do every day that add up to the big things. But that's not all, that's only the small picture. The big picture is that it's not only our business, but our life that we are playing with, every minute we waste in mindless distraction. One day we will turn around and either feel amazed at how we spent our time... or we will want to turn back the clock and wish for another chance. This is your chance. Today.

GET REAL And of course, there is one more thing that we should never forget, that is very much part of the every day,. It's obvious but we often forget that our efforts will either increase our own and our family's standard of living... or not. Ironically, it can be that very pressure that makes us put off our efforts. This doesn't mean that we should work around the clock to buy toys, but if there are bills to pay and necessities to buy, every minute spent goofing off is directly taking from your family... and yourself. And every extra hour you have to work because you spent an hour surfing the web is an hour away from your family... and your life. When you think of it that way, accountability runs in the background. It really is the silent issue that can be used to work for you. If you need a reminder and many of us do, find an accountability partner. Take some time every day to think about the day that will surely come when you have to look back at what you've done with your time.