Why Commitment — Not Just Planning — Is the True Driver of Business Success Planning provides direction, but true business success is driven by steadfast commitment.
By Chris Kille Edited by Chelsea Brown
Key Takeaways
- While plans provide direction, commitment drives consistency, tenacity and victory.
- Commitment means not running from problems, embracing changes and continuing to soldier on even in the tough times.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The great marketing expert Seth Godin once wrote, "You don't need a new plan for next year. You need a commitment." I believe that those who are running a business or leading a team know how crucial those words are. Commitment is more than planning in that it has been defined as the most potent force. On one side, plans provide direction; on the other, commitment drives consistency, tenacity and victory.
Being committed is more than being punctual or adhering to a laid-down agenda or schedule. The second concept is passion; it is a strong and focused commitment to your purpose, plan and principles. It means not running from the problems, embracing the changes and continuing to soldier on even in the tough times. Here's why commitment, rather than just planning, is the true driver of business success:
1. Consistency beats perfection
To achieve consistency, it is necessary to commit to a particular strategy or course of action. Commitment is about arriving at class or practice, doing the necessary work and moving forward no matter how infinitesimal. To sum it up, consistency helps to build trust with your customers, team and other stakeholders. It shows reliability and also generates confidence in stable business operations in your business.
To understand, picture a fitness regimen. While it is easy to devise the perfect workout schedule, it is quite another thing to stick to the exercise routines. Likewise, in business, success is not built in one day or in one go but results from a person's efforts and determination.
2. Resilience in the face of adversity
Business landscapes are unpredictable. Market conditions change, competition is established, and several other problems arise. The various uncertainties are thus taken care of by commitment, which provides you with the strength needed to succeed. This helps you keep your eye on the ball and helps you stick to your target vision and long-term objectives, even when faced with short-term hitches.
Think of Thomas Edison and his commitment to devising the light bulb. He faced numerous trials in the process, but he was determined and did not stop until he reached success. Such resilience is incredibly vital for any entrepreneur in a bid to achieve sustainable success.
3. Authentic leadership and team morale
A determined, authentic and committed leader inspires their team. Employees become motivated knowing their leader works hard for the company. It fosters organizational commitment, where all the employees are directed toward the company's vision and mission.
For instance, one can see the passion and determination that Elon Musk has towards his dreams for SpaceX and Tesla. This singularity of purpose has motivated his teams to seek the extraordinary and, in doing so, has achieved many great things for both companies.
4. Adaptability and innovation
Commitment is not setting oneself in concrete and sticking to a plan no matter what. It also entails flexibility — that is, the ability and willingness to embrace change. It is important for any entrepreneur to embrace the fact that the plans developed may require change because of new data available, changes in the market or challenges presented along the way. These individuals will adapt and make changes to ensure they attain the desired course outcomes.
Netflix is the perfect example of the concept of commitment coupled with flexibility through its transition from a DVD-renting firm to a streaming service provider. The company's leaders guided it towards the vision of providing entertainment and sought to incorporate strategies such as new technology and customer choices.
5. Building long-term relationships
Loyalty to customers is not just in making a deal. Building loyalty is all about understanding customers' needs, providing the necessary tools to create value and earning their trust. To that end, people who keep encountering your business's consistent efforts to meet their needs are likely to become brand ambassadors.
Consumers' awareness of the fact that Apple consistently provides quality products and outstanding customer service is a crucial foundation that helps the company retain its loyal customers even during tough periods. This is a long-term association, which is the key to Apple's long-term success.
6. Clarity and focus
Commitment means a clear picture and a sharp eye. This is because when focused on the goals, one becomes committed, and it becomes easier to organize, decide and possibly allocate resources towards the achievement of the set goals. All these aspects ensure that one is focused on the strategic goals and that nothing disruptive interferes with the process of their implementation.
Let's take Warren Buffett's approach to investing into consideration. His loyalty to the principles of value investing and his stringent vision of long-term results have established him as one of the most successful stock players of all time. This clarity and focus are very important for the sustenance of any business venture.
Related: If You Want Great Results, You Need to Be Committed
7. Overcoming fear and taking risks
Entrepreneurship inherently involves risk-taking. Commitment will assist you in overcoming the barrier of fear of failure so that you are in a position to make risky decisions. It makes you believe in your capacity and in your dreams, and it motivates you to come out of your shell and go for the things that others may consider too risky.
Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, is a very good example of this courage. She has shared that while growing up, her father actually encouraged failure and would ask her and her brother what they had failed at each week. If they reported a failure, her father would celebrate, and if they had no failures to report, he showed disappointment. This experience reshaped her definition of failure, and Blakely says that after that, "failure, for me, became not trying." Despite having no prior experience in the fashion industry, she was determined to bring her shapewear concept into existence, and now Spanx has become a household name. Blakely also believes that "the biggest risk in life is not risking."
8. Boosting personal growth
Entrepreneurship is also a process of self-transformation. As people commit themselves to their business objectives, it is expected that it will compel them to learn, gain more knowledge and change. This continuous personal development is essential in the competitive environment to strive and adapt to the market for the long term.
Howard Schultz, the man who was once Starbucks' CEO, never stopped learning how to become a better leader and a better businessman. This also helped him develop a personal growth attitude that played a role in the growth of Starbucks into one of the world's biggest companies.
9. Inspiring confidence in stakeholders
Businesspeople expect commitment from leaders due to the stakes they hold in the businesses. They want to know that you care about the project and that you have the drive to bring the vision to fruition. Getting down to show commitment can go a long way in getting people to have confidence in you and thereby get the kind of support you need for the expansion of your business.
Oprah Winfrey built a very organized vision and drive for her company OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), which is likely the primary reason why investors placed their trust in her and provided her with the funding and partnership to create a prosperous media network.
10. Achieving sustainable success
Ultimately, commitment is the key to achieving sustainable success. It ensures that you remain dedicated to your mission, values and goals over the long term. While plans may change, your commitment to your vision keeps you moving forward and adapting to new challenges and opportunities.
Jeff Bezos's commitment to Amazon's customer-centric vision has driven the company's growth and innovation for decades. This long-term commitment has positioned Amazon as one of the most successful and influential companies in the world.
Related: How a Personal Commitment Helps Your Business Grow
In the end, while plans are essential for setting direction, it is a commitment that propels you toward your goals. Commitment fuels consistency, resilience, authentic leadership, adaptability and long-term success. As Seth Godin wisely noted, it's not about having a new plan every year; it's about having a steadfast commitment to your vision.
Embrace commitment as your guiding principle, and watch as it transforms your business and drives you to achieve extraordinary success. Remember, it's your unwavering dedication, not just your plans, that will ultimately make the difference.
