Commitment is about doing something when you don’t know the plan and having the courage to go through the unknowns. It can be difficult and scary at times, but when we branch out on our own as entrepreneurs, we need to fully commit ourselves to our business and our mission. It’s the one thing that will keep us going through all the tough times we will inevitably face.

And I can say this because I’ve seen it in my own life. In fact, I learned the value of commitment from a young age …

When you choose your own way, you commit yourself.

As entrepreneurs, we’re not happy following someone else’s lead or sitting idly at a nine-to-five job. We’ve chosen to venture out on our own and start a business—and just by making this choice, we’re committing ourselves to our business and this lifestyle.

When you choose to do anything on your own accord, your level of commitment is far higher than if it were forced upon you.

I learned this lesson for myself many years before I even started my own business. At the age of 20, I decided to go on an Outward Bound expedition in Scotland. (If you’re familiar with Strategic Coach, you’ve probably heard this story.) It was a foundational experience in my life and it taught me a lot about myself and about the world.

The program consisted of hiking through mountain ranges and sailing on the North Sea. At the end of the course, I was given an award. I was the only one in the group to get an award, and part of the reward was a dinner with the “warden” of the group and several of the other leaders.

At dinner, the leaders of the group told me—much to my surprise—that they had known I would be the top student from day one. I asked them how they could possibly have known that, and they said it was because I was the only one who had chosen to be there and paid my own way. Everyone else was either sent by a corporation or the legal system.

They knew I was going to get the most out of the group because I had committed myself to it by finding it, applying, and paying my way through. I won that award because of my level of commitment.

At the time, I didn’t quite understand just how valuable that lesson was. But over the years, it has shown itself time and time again—both in business and in life. The people who choose their experience and pay their own way always get the maximum results in life and business.

So when we look at the importance of commitment in business, we should really take a step back and look at what happens before the commitment.

Did you choose to go into business for yourself?
Do you see yourself as a business owner?
Did you pay your own way?
Is this something you want to do?

If you can answer yes to these questions, then your level of commitment is already higher than the vast majority of people. If you aren’t able to answer yes to these questions, you may want to take a step back and analyze why you’re doing this and if you’re ready to fully commit to your business.

Commitment is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Commitment is the secret key to untapping and increasing your potential, both in life and in business. When you venture into the unknown and commit to your business, you’re setting yourself on a path to learn and grow as an individual.

Commitment is about having the courage to go through the unknowns. And when you go through those unknowns, you learn. When you learn, you develop capabilities that you would never be able to acquire through other means.

Those capabilities then lead to confidence. That confidence then, in turn, leads to more commitment—and more capabilities, and more confidence …

When you complete this cycle over and over again, it leads to massive success and massive results—especially in business.

The best part? Because this cycle is self-fulfilling, all you need to do is put in that first level of commitment. From there, it will compound upon itself and you’ll start to see exponential growth across your life and business.

And that is the true importance of commitment in business.

 

Author: Dan Sullivan