Committed to the Cause

Commitment is one of the 5 key pillars I speak about in my Masterclasses. All who are successful in sport, music and business have this in abundance. When they say they are going to do something they do it. Their resolve to achieve what they have set out to do is remarkable and is one of the main reasons they so often make it, alongside the hard work needed for their success.
 
It is important to be honest with yourself and others rather than make excuses. You grow when you accept accountability. It sustains your integrity and allows you to be honest with yourself about what is more important to you than the commitment itself. 
 
It is vital to realise that commitment to success is an absolute – you’re either committed or you’re not. You can’t be 50% committed, or almost committed, any more than you can be partially unique.
 
Remarkable performance doesn’t happen by accident; it is always preceded by commitment. The connection between these two can be described as:
 
Commitment is the price you are willing to pay to get remarkable results.
Performance reveals the price you have paid.
 
It is important to note at this stage that we all have different personalities and that some people are very happy to retire at 65 years old (or even earlier) and play golf. Others have holidays and enjoy their leisure time whilst some prefer to keep busy to be happy. All of these and everything in between is absolutely fine; it’s what you are happiest with that counts.
 
Clearly, I am in the camp of the ‘keeping active’ brigade, where I need a reason to get up in the morning and have a purpose in life. This gives me energy and makes me happy so my commitment to be working at the age of 80 suits me very well.
 
 
My radio days
 
When I got a job and moved into the world of radio, I had an attitude of hard work which I took into that position. I worked well and was enthusiastic and I progressed from sales rep to senior sales, and eventually to regional sales manager running a team selling radio across the country. My work ethic was good, and I succeeded because of it.
 
After 5 years in radio, I decided to leave to try running my own business and things changed for me. Over the next 30 years, I jumped from job to job and my commitment to anything at all seemed to fade away. I would start a new job and do really well in the first year hitting all my targets.
 
Then in the second year I would tell myself that I was really lucky to have this natural talent and that I didn’t really need to keep working so hard, so I would take my foot off the pedal.
 
 
Then it would fall apart
 
The following year I would be called into my line manager’s office, and they would ask me what had happened to me and why my results were not as good as the previous year. I would then try to turn the tap on again and for some reason I couldn’t.
 
It was as though I was stuck in second gear, and I would work hard for a few days then slack off again. I would then move to another company and start well again, only for the second year to follow the same pattern.
 
This really frustrated me, and I didn’t understand what was happening, but now I know that I hadn’t truly made a commitment to succeed in that position and because of this it slowly fell apart.
 
 
There are no shortcuts
 
I learned that there are no shortcuts to this. All high achievers have two things in common: commitment and hard work. I’m sorry to be the bearer of this news but at the ripe old age of 69 I must agree with this adage. If you want to succeed in anything at all, you need to commit and put the work in.
 
Now I truly understand the importance of commitment and apply it in my role as MD of JD Mindcoach Ltd. My attitude is completely committed, and I am not going to switch off. I understand that smart, hard work is the only way to succeed with my business, together with a good strategy and a positive mindset. Quick recovery from setbacks is essential as is staying healthy and happy.
 
I have made a commitment to be speaking on stage at 80 years of age. I will, of course, scale the workload down, with a plan to work full-on to the age of 70, then 75% work and 25% play up to 75 years of age. Following this it will be 50% work and 50% play to 80, then I will at that stage review my situation and may indeed carry on.
 
 
Commitment changes everything
 
Because of this commitment I now have an amazing career ahead of me – speaking, training and coaching Mental Resilience and all its components. I have the chance to see the world and do something I am truly passionate about.
 
I dearly love this business where I can help so many people raise their game and unlock that real potential they have but are unaware of. To have found a real passion is a gift and something I am very grateful for.
 
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
Joshua J. Marine
 
 
Thoughts for the week 

1. How is your level of commitment?
2. Are you happy with it?
3. What would happen to you if you increased your level of commitment?
4. This week ponder on your level of commitment across a range of areas both at work and at home and see if you can increase it in a couple of areas and watch what happens. 

 
Well, that’s it for this week, have a wonderful weekend and keep believing.
 
Warm regards

John 

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