It’s true. Everyone needs what one of my best friends, Ross Kirchman and I call, ‘BC’; short for Breakfast Club. 

A few years ago we started meeting every Wednesday at 7am, before work at a nearby Starbucks. We would meet for an hour with the goal of keeping each other accountable to goals each of us would set to push ourselves beyond our current lifestyles.

By most measures, we were doing well. Each of us had good paying jobs with growth potential, we both had completed our MBA programs, and were having fun going out with our girlfriends.

However, each of us wanted something more. Neither of us wanted to be content or just settle for something short of what we felt like we could achieve.

So it started. Each week we would meet for an hour to discuss ways to push ourselves in different areas of our lives. We would discuss everything from advancing in our professional career, growing to be a stronger Christian, to ways we thought we could become a better leader.

The big point is that we did not just talk about ideas and then go off to work and feel good about ourselves. Each week we would commit to actions we would take to achieve specific goals and then we would hold each other accountable.

For example, one of my big topics was starting my new company at the time. I would commit to writing a business plan and doing research by a certain date and presenting it at BC, where Ross would provide feedback. We would share ideas and think about ways to take steps towards accomplishing our goals.  We had a mutual respect for one another and neither of us wanted to let the other down.

Ross lives in West Palm and I live in Atlanta now so we don’t meet each week at a Starbucks. Now, we talk on the phone every third Friday of the month at 7am. Last month we both presented our goals for this year. I know that each month, Ross will want to hear about the progress I’m making towards them and I will be doing the same for him.

Having someone there to keep you honest, share ideas, and encourage you helps, no matter what the circumstance or what you’re trying to achieve. It may be something different for everyone. For Ross and I, it’s BC and it’s something I plan on doing for the rest of my life.