Loving what you do is the spark of the ignition, but commitment is the fuel that gets you to your destination.
The other day, I posted the following on LinkedIn, asking people to fill in the blank. “Nothing great has ever been achieved without ______.”
I received over 90 responses. The number one answer?
Commitment. (The runner-up: perseverance, which is essentially commitment’s first cousin)
I propose that the reason this answer was so popular is that we know the following truth instinctively:
To succeed at something, it’s not enough to be good at what you do. Or love what you do. It’s not even enough to be passionate about what you do.
You have to be committed.
Loving what you do is the spark of the ignition, but commitment is the fuel that gets you to your destination. Trying to be successful without committing is like trying to drive up a hill on an empty tank: your chance at success requires a miracle.
And what about hard work, talent, great ideas, self-confidence, you may ask? They’re important, too. But they’re not enough to keep us going when the going gets tough.
What is it about commitment?
While passion and ideas are fleeting, commitment, on the other hand, stems from our WHY—the reasoning we do what we do and the decision to stick to it.
So whether you’re having a good or bad day, you stay focused on growth and progress. When you’re committed, you can hurdle the obstacles that stand in the way of success.
So how do we know that we’re truly committed?
Here are a few Ptex Practical Pointers for gauging how committed you really are:
1. You’re consistent.
When there’s an underlying commitment to everything you do, you are consistent. You stay on task despite whatever’s standing in your way. Though you may slow down to regroup or reassess, you never stop. You keep going. Sure and steady.
2. You persevere.
When you’re committed, you know that not every stumbling block is a reason to quit. Challenges don’t spoil your motivation, your passion, or your drive. They do make you search harder for solutions, and more determined to forge ahead.
3. You’re patient.
You know that every “overnight success” was actually years in the making. And you’re not looking for a quick fix. You’re willing to stick with it for as long as it takes, because you know it’s going to be worth it in the end.
These are the signs of a truly committed person.
Do they describe you, at least most of the time?
Do you look for these qualities when hiring?
Do you see these qualities in successful people you admire?
Comment and let me know what you think . . .
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P.S. Check out my original LinkedIn post to see over 90 responses to the question I asked on social media about the most important factor for success. And if we’re not yet connected on LinkedIn, I hope you connect with me there!
P.P.S. I delve much deeper into these topics in our monthly Leaders Forum, a full day workshop for leaders of growing businesses. Over 125 business owners have already attended the Leaders Forum and gained clarity on how to manage growth and scale their businesses. Click here to learn more and apply.)
