A Commitment to Commitment. That is what separates us from the rest.

A Commitment to Commitment. That is what separates us from the rest.

There are many things which drive us in life. In fact, there are many things which we drive away from as well. One of these is that of commitment. Commitment to oneself and just as important is commitment to others. I think back to a film I once saw called “1776” which of course was based on the early days leading to the Declaration of Independence. All throughout the film we are reminded of how much is at stake and how all the signers of the Declaration realized that they were pledging and putting everything on the line for the greater cause. One of the most important lines I remember from this film was about commitment as follows: “Commitment, commitment. There are only two creatures of value on the face of this earth – those with a commitment and those who require the commitment of others.

So what is commitment? What is commitment all about? To each person, commitment has a different meaning.

How many marathon runners can you remember seeing giving up before they reach the finish line? I am sure that they are all tired well before the finish line. How many stories have you heard of soldiers charging up that hill not fully knowing what was waiting at the top or if they would even reach the top? But one thing is clearly the case and true…everyone you lead depends on you.

1. Heart. I remember watching the movie “The Replacements” and at a particular point when all seemed lost, the coach was asked what it would take to turn things around. His reply was “Heart, miles and miles of heart” Well that is where commitment starts, in your heart! You can’t wait for everything to be perfect before you start to do anything. Look into your heart before you do anything else. Heart is what separates good from great.

2. Action. There is an age old adage that states “I can’t hear what you’re saying because your actions speak louder than words”. Well this one saying basically sums up its effect on commitment. You either are doing it and thus your commitment shows or you are not.

3. Achievement. How many times will you get up after you are knocked down? The answer always is one more time!

Let’s reflect here for a moment. There is no room for coping out. If you have not set any goals you will not know what to commit to. Stop Holding Out. You can only be afraid for just so long. Shoot for your goals by committing to them. Give up any urge what so ever to be a drop out. Yes, it is going to be tough but that is why the caterpillar turns into the beautiful butterfly because it was tough to get out of that cocoon. Or as J F Kennedy said in one of his speeches. We are not doing this because it is easy but because it is hard. You need to be “all in” and you need to commit “all out”. Are you so committed to your commitment that you are prepared to give your life for it? I hope that it does not come to that but that is what it is all about.

My call to action for you is to sit down with a pad of paper and write down your goals. If you don’t have any or many, come up with some. Then determine which ones are the most important and set a plan in place to action them. Get yourself a coach. Yes, a coach. If you look around you will find that the most successful people out there do in fact have coaches. If you don’t presently have one, contact me at [email protected] and we can talk further on this as I am fully certified to help you.

Your Comments always welcome.

Peace. BB

Are you focused on others or just on You?

Are you focused on others or just on You?

It would not be fair of me to write about you so instead I will write about me in the First Person. You see, I learned a long time ago that when you point a finger at someone, there are 3 fingers pointing back at you. But again, I said that I will write this in the first person, ME!

Have you ever thought about “charisma”? Well, I have. I have asked myself many times, just what is it that causes others to want to be with or follow someone else. Well this is a Leadership article but let me take it a step further. We use the word Leadership so freely these days that we think that we all have it. Oopps, I said that I would write this in the first person, didn’t I? So, I have a title. I have a position. And naturally, I assume (dangerous word to use) that I am a Leader. Recently, I learned to use a different word when it comes to leadership. And that descriptive word is “influencer”. How does my leadership allow me to influence others to the point where they want to follow me? In many ways, another word that will compliment this is charisma.

How can I have charisma? I need to be more concerned about making others feel good about themselves than I am about making them feel good about me. I have found it so much better doing things under a spirit of approval than that of a spirit of criticism.

I used to think that charisma was a mystical word that only certain people had. Some think that it is. But charisma is like a magnet that attracts all or most anyway to you. So clearly, this charisma thing is something that can and should be developed. Again, as I write this, in the first person, I clearly describe me now versus the me I was…

1. Do I love life? Well I do now. I used to be a miserable and grumpy person. Why, because I thought that to be a good leader I needed to be so. I thought that the lack of a smile and a staunch hard attitude would make me respected and appreciated. The only thing that I found out was that I was feared and that I tended to be depressed a lot. Now, I am passionate about life. And I try to help people to be about their lives. There is just too much negativity in this world and that is not what it is meant to be.

2. Treat people like each and every one of them is a “10”. Now let me tell you, that I run into some people who I sometimes wonder about. Well if I had a mirror, that was what I used to look like. Today, I try to see the good in everyone and to help them see the best that is in each of them.

3. It’s all about “HOPE”. This is an acronym that I have learned about. While the word in and of itself has deep meaning, when broken down, its meaning becomes more unique. HOPE stands for Helping Other People Excel. I need to be a dealer in HOPE.

4. The greatest thing that I have learned to become is that of a “Server”. I used to be a follower of that famous radio station “WIIFM” (What’s in it for me). Today, I am a follower of “WIIFO” (What’s in it for others). I am much happier helping others. I am much happier giving of myself be it wisdom, resources etc. In fact, my main push in life, my Why, is that of helping others thru a Magnificent Obsession.

So I have written this in the first person…ME! I challenge you to ask yourself, how you rate yourself when it comes to charisma. How do you rate when it comes to Pride, Insecurity, Moodiness, Perfectionism and most importantly, Cynicism?

In closing, join me in working at some simple things to improve your charisma…
-Change your focus
-Play the first impression game
-Share yourself

Help people feel welcome around you and help them to know that you are sorry when they have to leave.

Let me know your thoughts and comments. Write to me at [email protected] or leave your thoughts here on Facebook. What will YOU do today to effect YOU today that will have an affect on others?