feature · May 2014
Expanding the world's understanding of commitment
The unfocused person is characterized by consistently poor performance.
Commitment Until one is committed there is always hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a great respect for one of Goethe’s couplets; “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” W.H. Murray The Second Himalayan Expedition Copyright © 2003 Clear Purpose Management, Inc. Lone Tree, Colorado
The unfocused person is characterized by consistently poor performance.
To motivate this type of person, managers must provide a support structure that includes penalties for nonperformance.
To keep this type of person motivated, it is important for managers to structure an environment that includes many tangible rewards for desired performance.
Such "purpose inspired" people find their competitive advantage is quite naturally sustained through their high level of self-motivation.
The ultimate strategic thinker is characterized by sustained high-level performance.
Notice that detachment and commitment are polar opposites.
Commitment does not surrender options. Commitment leads to options.
We must then learn to re-focus our thinking on what is right instead of what is wrong.
We must continually remind ourselves that commitment is, in fact, the only available means of gaining true control.