June 1, 2011

“There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”

~~Ken Blanchard, author of the best seller The One Minute Manager

Without a 100% commitment to anything, you spend so much time (and energy!) every day deciding whether or not to keep the commitment. If you’re truly interested in writing–but not 100% committed–you probably fight with yourself nearly every day over whether or not to stick to your writing disciplines.

I’ve been fighting this for about thirty years. Long enough! It’s high time the writing and marketing (necessary these days if you want to have a writing career) became absolute non-negotiables.

No Matter What?

What if we lived the rest of our lives the way we live our writing life? Instead of the “should I write today, or shouldn’t I write?” daily hassle, we’d be fighting nearly everything! But we don’t. We make 100% decisions all the time. Examples:

• I never pass a bank or gas station and fight with myself about whether to pull in and rob them. I don’t steal. Ever. And I don’t intend to. So I don’t have to waste time and energy thinking about it.
• I don’t agonize over every attractive person I see and fight with myself about whether to initiate some illicit relationship. I don’t cheat. Ever. And I don’t intend to. So I don’t have to waste time and energy thinking about it.
• I don’t agonize over whether to brush my teeth after I eat breakfast. I don’t want my teeth to rot. Ever. And I don’t waste time and energy thinking about it.

Make That Commitment

We all have things we’ve made 100% commitments to: exercise programs, drinking water, tucking our kids into bed every night, not swearing, getting to bed by eleven, praying…you name it. Isn’t it time we made our writing commitments 100% too?

And you know the kicker? Studies have proven that it’s actually far easier to keep a 100% commitment than a partial commitment. Have you ever found that to be true?

4 Comments »

1. 

   After all these years (46-ish of them), I’ve finally instigated the 100% commitment to exercising at a certain gym for ladies three times a week. Specifically on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At first, I did have a few struggles with myself about whether to keep my commitment. I finally sat myself down and said, “Self, do you want ANOTHER year of inactivity and all that goes with it to go by AGAIN?” Self said no. So I said, “Self, is today Monday?” Self said yes. I said, “So what’s the problem?” I haven’t had any more uprisings since then!

   Comment by Heather — June 1, 2011 @ 11:13 am

2. 

   That’s interesting, Kristi. I’d say that we make 100% commitments to the necessary things — for me those are God, family, food, shelter.

   I think there is a danger in thinking that you’ve not given 100% to your writing for the past 30 years. So what? Did it deserve 100%?

   And yes, I agree that when you make a total commitment, you follow through without question.

   ps: do take a peek at my blog at: http://www.vijayabodach.blogspot.com I have a picture of my first article in Catholic Digest

   Comment by Vijaya — June 1, 2011 @ 7:51 pm

3. 

   I absolutely agree with you that all commitments should be in writing. Unless we write something down it doesnt quite process in our heads. I also believe that we should have all your commitments in front of us as much as we can. Whether it would be on beside our bed, or desk where we work so we glance at them daily, just as a reminder. Thanks for a good post!

   Comment by first aid — June 1, 2011 @ 11:46 pm

4. 

   Heather, I loved your post! No more uprisings–great! Yes, when you’ve made a quality decision like that, you save so much time and energy later waffling around. Good for you!

   Vijaya, loved your blog post picture. Congratulations! I had an article reprinted in that magazine years ago–although I’m not Catholic. I wonder if it ends up in doctors’ waiting rooms or somewhere like that because I heard from readers for years about it. You’ll get a good readership!

   First aid, I agree with you about keeping our commitments written down and in front of us continually. My mistake is writing them down and putting them away in a notebook for months. Doesn’t work! Thanks for the reminder!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 4, 2011 @ 10:30 am

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