In this issue: If the road to your dreams is paved with good intentions, maybe you
need to embrace the power of commitment.
CREATIVE CAREERS
UNLEASHED!
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For Creative, Eclectic,
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From Lyle T. Lachmuth
The Unsticking Coach(TM)
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==============================================
THE POWER OF COMMITMENT
Why do so many good intentions go astray?
You get an inspiration – a BIG IDEA. You get going.
And, slowly, oh so slowly, the idea, the project withers, gathers dust, and
eventually is added to the pile of "Big-Ideas-Never-Realized".
It’s not like it was a bad idea. I mean you were
revved up, excited, pumped! But, the Big Idea never came to fruition. Why?
Perhaps, you neglected the Power of Commitment.
Let’s take a look…
QUOTATIONS
"Hell is paved with good intentions." – Samuel Johnson
"To have striven, to have made the effort, to have
been true to certain ideals – this alone is worth the struggle." – Sir William Osler
"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." — Confucius
"The freedom to be your best means nothing unless
you are willing to do your best." –
Colin Powell
THE POWER OF COMMITMENT
I
have a confession to make.
I
have a few ideas of my own on that "Big-Ideas-Never-Realized" pile. The PhD is
one of them; the cottage in
Nova
Scotia another.
Happily,
though I do have Big Ideas that have been brought to fruition. The Masters
degree is one; the book of poetry self-published another.
I’m
an Analyzer. I’m not sure if it’s my training as a research technologist or
just my nature. But, I’m always wondering things like, "Why did that happen?" "How come one time it worked and another it
didn’t" "Why did I succeed on that occasion but fail on the other?"
So, in
thinking about the factors that made a difference in, for example, why I
completed my Masters but haven’t obtained a PhD; one factor stands out: COMMITMENT.
Lately
I’ve been talking about Commitment with a number of my clients (Thanks Peter for being my amusing muse). So I thought it
would be valuable to share some thoughts about it with you. Here goes …
1. What Is Commitment?
I
have before me a page torn out of one of those A-Thought-A-Day desk calendars.
The
date: Tuesday, May 3, 1988. It has an illustration of a beach in the foreground.
In the background white waves and a blue sky filled with puffy white clouds. On
the beach sand sit a bucket and shovel. At the edge of the beach a large,
exotic sand castle, with multiple doors and turrets has been built.
Superimposed on the sand in the foreground of the illustration are these words:
COMMITMENT 1. The act of committing 2. The state of being committed 3. A
pledge, promise, or obligation 4. The act of pledging oneself 5. Involvement 6.
Agreement
I
like that bit about "the act of pledging
oneself". Couple that with the part about promise and obligation and you
begin to get a sense of the Power of Commitment.
Unless,
perhaps, promises mean little to you
2. Why Make A Commitment?
So,
here’s the point: Having an idea is one thing. Committing to make it happen is
something else entirely. It’s like the old story about the bacon and egg
breakfast. The chicken is involved but the pig is committed!
So, if you really, really, really want that
Big Idea to become reality you need to commit to it!
Let’s
compare this idea to relationships. We’ll hear someone say, "I’m in a committed relationship." What
does that mean? Well, mostly, it means we’ve focused our relationship energies
on one other person. We’ve agreed to spend time with that person, do things
with them, share living quarters, share dreams and projects, and stop messin’
with other folks.
Commitment
carries the notion of deciding; of cutting off (the root meaning of decide)
options, possibilities; of focusing energy (psychic, emotional, physical, spiritual,
and, in some cases, sexual) on the person/thing committed to.
Why
make a commitment?
Because
it’s a conscious statement that YOU are going to do your damn best to make this
thing happen.
3. How to Commit
So,
you recognize there’s power in making a commitment. But, you’re wondering, "Is there a way to make sure my commitments
stick?"
You
bet! Here are some simple but powerful steps you can take to ensure your commitments
come true:
a)
Have You Committed?
Way
back in 1986 when I was getting ready to start my Masters program I suddenly
realized that my plan was just, well, an idea. I realized that it would likely
take a lot of energy, hard work, and that there’d be problems along the way.
And, I realized that I hadn’t COMMITTED to making it through.
So,
step 1, is simply to ask, "Have I
committed to this?"
b)
Craft a Compelling Commitment
So,
I realized that I hadn’t committed. And, I just knew in my guts that it wasn’t
going to be easy to complete the program (e.g. I didn’t have a bachelor’s
degree). So, I sat down and wrote out a Commitment Statement. Mine was, "No matter what it takes. No matter what I
have to do. I WILL graduate on time!"
Draft,
redraft, and work hard to craft a compelling statement of your commitment to yourself.
c) Publish
Your Commitment
In
my case, I posted my commitment on a wall next to my computer. And, I said it
to myself as a kind of mantra.
Do
whatever will work to keep that commitment top of mind.
d) Honour
Your Commitment
Your
commitment WILL be tested! Mine was on several occasions. Probably the toughest
was when I was 4 months into the program and had run out of money to pay my
tuition. Even though it was scary, and embarrassing, I fessed up my dilemma to
my class. One of my classmates kindly offered me a writing contract that
carried me through two tough months. (THANKS BRUCE!)
Don’t
give up the 1st time your commitment is tested. Don’t give up the 21st
time your commitment is tested, either!
e)
Support Your Commitment
Get
the support you need for your commitment. Whether that is through friends or
family or through your spirituality.
Yes,
it IS your commitment. But, you don’t have to do it alone. I am eternally
grateful for the emotional support I got from a few classmates and the
financial support I got in the form of scholarships from
Pepperdine
University.
f)
Realize Your Commitment
Yes!
If you stick with your commitment, you will get what you committed to. I DID
graduate ON TIME. Bruce, the fellow who helped me financially, and I were the
ONLY on time graduates in our class. YEAH US!!
Let’s
sum up: If you want your Big Idea to come to fruition, you need to leverage the
Power of Commitment.
===============================================
REV UP YOUR MOJO!
Tune
in for yet another great guest Genre Buster(TM).
Please
SAVE THIS DATE: Wednesday, January 24th, 2007!
My
guest will be Joan Hitlin, formerly: fashion copywriter, sculptor,
loft design consultant. Currently:
life coach, energy coach, creativity coach, Mojotivity trainer, cat
whisperer (just ask her cats).
Joan has been instrumental in helping me deal with and
manage the negative emotions in my life. I’ve learned tons from her – I know
you will too!
You
can find Joan at www.JoanHitlin.com
If
you’ve haven’t already subscribed to the entertaining and informative Successful
Genre Busters(TM) Speakers Series DO IT NOW!
Send
a blank email to gb-interest [at] awber [dot] com
Until
next time,
Lyle Lachmuth MS
(Organization Development)
The Unsticking Coach(TM)
Your Talents > Your
Career >> Your Life >>> Your Way! (TM)
Turning Point
Strategies
Box 72140 RPO
Glenmore Landing |
Calgary,
AB
CANADA
T2V 5H9
E: LyleTLachmuth [at]
Gmail.com
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Copyright 2006 Lyle T.
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