DON'T STOP (GET IT! GET IT!)
I was watching an interview with Will Smith (one of my favorite actors and people to follow on social media), and I couldn’t believe how committed he was to achieving the things he set out to achieve. He said “the only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple.” Isn’t it safe to say that if he’s willing to DIE, he’s pretty committed?
How committed are you to your goals? dreams? health? To your relationships? Are you willing to die on a treadmill for what you want? Commitment is probably the NUMBER ONE thing that separates you from achieving what you’re hungry for. Yes, there are things in life that we want to happen, but simply wanting it to happen means that you’ll do it when circumstances permit.
Commitment means an unwavering YES. It means we’re willing to give 100% of everything we’ve got and do whatever it takes to make something happen, no matter the circumstances, the odds, the personal gain or recognition, no matter the comfort or level of difficulty… you are going to do it REGARDLESS. Again I ask, how committed are you?
- Have a burning desire- You have to have meaning and purpose in order to want something so bad that it BURNS inside of you. Your burning desire is what gets you out of bed every day on a mission to achieve what you said you were going to achieve yesterday.
- Be clear on your goal- It’s hard to stay committed to something you’re not absolutely clear about. Would you run a marathon without a finish line? I know I wouldn’t. In order to stay the course, in order to remain absolutely committed to something, you must be clear on what it is you want to achieve and don’t stop until you get there.
- Sacrifice- True commitment means you’re willing to give up the things that are valued but don’t matter as much as the things you’re committed to. The things you are committed to will cause interruptions in some areas of your life, but you can tell how committed someone is by how easy it is to distract them or convince them otherwise.
- Accountability is key- Let’s face it, our enthusiasm to achieve something will not be at the same level every single day, and if you are human… there’s this thing I call the New Year’s Resolution Effect that you and I are subject to. You know how New Year’s comes and we make these resolutions and we’re ON FIRE and excited for the next 2-3 maybe even 4 weeks to achieve them?… But a month later the passion has died and we have dropped the ball. That will happen to you if you do not set up an ACCOUNTABILITY system for yourself. You have to hold yourself accountable DAILY to the things you’re trying to achieve in the future. Begin each week by writing down your top goals for the next 7 days and before you go to bed each night, write down tomorrow’s top 3 key tasks that, if accomplished, will leave you satisfied with your day. Once you’ve completed your day’s tasks, you can stop guilt free. You also hold yourself accountable by telling your closest friends and family about the things you’re trying to achieve. Whether their reactions are positive or negative doesn’t matter, letting others know will help you stay accountable. Also, join a group of people that can hold you to your word. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are rooting for you to succeed and it will drive you even further to stay committed.
No matter how many bullets are shot at you, don’t die!! Be consistent in your play and never give up, no matter how hard it seems. The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Blessings and Love,
Marti Reed