We often make a commitment to do things that we later give up on, but what is meant by a genuine commitment?
To be committed means giving our time and energy to someone or something that we believe in or making a promise or a firm decision to do something.
But a genuine commitment is much more than this.
We are genuinely committed when we decide to do something without any expectation of return. And when there is no going back. Whatever happens, we stick to it. There are not any:
- conditions
- dependence on rewards
- reciprocity
- bargaining
- get-out clauses
We take personal responsibility. We choose to be committed. Other people can’t commit us to anything.
But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money – booked a sailing to Bombay.
This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!
We are genuinely committed when we decide to do something without any expectation of return. It is a pledge that we can only make willingly, and we should never take lightly.
Things Todo
- Reflect: What genuine commitments have you made in your life? Think about it. You may have made one or two subconsciously.
Posts that link to this post
- Ownership, Not Buy-in We need to move from buy-in to ownership
- The Four Levels of Knowledge Management The relation between Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management
- I. Take Responsibility We need to take responsibility for the changes we wish to see in the world
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