“Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose – and commit myself to – what is best for me.” – Paul Coehlo
On Monday, I facilitated a group discussion with leaders focused on personally developing their growth. What does commitment entail for leaders? Why is it important? What will we each do to improve our value of commitment, and what step can we do right now to act on delivering on a commitment we made?
A Story About A Dreamer
Alex Scott, a four year old dreamer, informed her mother she will raise money for the doctors “to help other kids, liked they helped me”. Alex committed right there to a big dream and a series of big milestones. Later that year, Alex and her brother built, supplied, and staffed a lemonade stand. You see this was big for Alex. Around one year she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. Doctors told her parents if Alex recovered, she would most likely never walk. Though Alex had other ideas. Two weeks later she moved her leg. Her cancer later went into remission. She started learning how to walk with the aid of braces and also to talk. Around her fourth birthday, cancer reappeared. It was from this that Alex made her dream be known.
With the stand built and lemonade served, the stand recognized $2000 in sales. Each year, Alex and her family brought out the stand again to raise money. Word began to spread through the nearby communities and then beyond. Other groups believed in this dream that Alex committed to achieving.
Alex, this dreamer, determined, courageous, confident, inspired girl, committed to a choice of what was best for her. In August 2004, Alex passed away at age eight. Alex and those groups joining her caused raised more than $1 million to treat childhood cancer!
Lessons from Alex’s Lemonade Stand
What can we learn from the Lemonade Stand to raise money to “treat other kids” as leaders? It starts with Alex’s commitment. From her hospital room, Alex’s dream commitment required a leap of faith. Commitment demands perseverance; requires others to help you; brings you to a higher performance level; encourages you to lean-in; and sets you up to act. The action is when you go from your public statement to taking the first step forward.
Some people do things half-heartedly. They lack full-out commitment or they fail to commit period. They hold back. Holding back is failing to recognize the opportunity to put ourselves into the infinite game. We begrudgingly choose to only show for the finite game. See Simon Sinek’s book “The Infinite Game” for the rules on committing.
Steps to Follow
If you don’t understand your commitment level or understand how you value commitments, ask two or three people closest to you.
- How reliable do you consider me to be with this goal?
- Do you believe I will achieve my goal?
- Do you think I will do what I say I will do?
Another method is to look at your current commitments:
- Write out a list of your current commitments
- Evaluate each of these on a scale of 1 (lowest or none) to 5 (highest) for the priority they hold in you achieving what you said you would do
- Now assess why you gave the ranking you did
- Is your voice being heard?
- Are you missing or lacking understanding on how to contribute?
- Are you at a standstill in your effort or moving slower than you wish?
- Is this commitment better to be exited in favor of someone else who is more passionate about it?
- What would it look like for you to move up one level in your priority?
- What can you do today in a small intentional step that moves you closer to reaching your goal?
The Call
Alex left us a model of commitment, even in a struggle we can see something through to realize the dream or the goal. Others will believe in you when you act on your commitment of doing what’s best for you. They will join your cause because of their belief in you. The choice you make in committing to a path often encourages you to take a step. The first step encourages you to take the second. Take the leap of faith like Alex. Make the commitment to your dream, vision, idea, or goal! See it through!
