In The 10X Rule, Grant Cardone states that extraordinary people routinely overdeliver on what they say they’re going to do. In other words, they actually do what they say they’ll do. When you decide to do something, decide 100 per cent. Cardone explains that when you have made such an all-in commitment, nothing holds you back. You dive in, no holds barred. You don’t test the waters; you cannonball in. Decide! No regrets.
Unsuccessful people never jump all the way into the pool, says Cardone, and even when they do commit, it usually isn’t to something that will help them. So the world doesn’t have enough commitment. If you want to succeed you need to quit second-guessing yourself and jump into your commitments: Stand they must, drop they must. So commit, get in, don’t look back. Once you make a commitment, you’ve jumped into the pool, and there is no retreat in midair – if you commit, you do it, no matter what.
Personal Journey
For me, this habit of fully committing to something has undeniably changed my own life. Before I adopted this habit, I always hesitated and second-guessed things – I analysed all possible outcomes until the vessel I was hoping to catch had sailed away. As soon as I adopted this habit, things started to change and I became far more productive.
A few years ago, I started up a new business. Before I committed fully – making the time, energy, effort and money – the what-ifs that supposedly littered the planning stage seemed to crowd my thoughts.
But then, when I committed, the whole process finally accelerated. I emailed hundreds of people, made hundreds of calls, kept going when I was tired, pushing with every ounce of energy I could muster. And then the business took off. Like many nascent startups, I did not know it was possible to fail.
Arguments for Habitual Commitment
Intensity of Commitment: As you firm up your commitment, your intensity increases: you pledge resolutely; you are more sure of yourself; you narrow your perspective; you don’t want to go back, so you push hard.
Practice makes perfect: the repetition of full-throttle effort looks like grinding it out, but if you’re serious about your commitments you’ll grow more proficient. These examples of effort have much in common. But when does what matters become what you matter about? It all boils down to intensity. When you strive to be better, you’re willing to try new things, learning as you go and improving over time. It’s one thing to make sales calls and another thing entirely to go ‘full-throttle’ with every sales call. Skill improvement requires nothing less than full-throttle effort.
Full commitment shatters internally held psychological barriers. It literally sets the gears in motion, as it reflexively alerts your mind to find a viable solution, thereby facilitating all types of creativity and innovation.
Breaking Barriers: Full commitment calls into action an intellectual pyramid army.
Counterarguments
Risk of Over-Commitment: One of most common objections regards over-commitment, which can lead to burnout. To jump in without goggles can be to bite off more than one can handle.
Quality or quantity: It’s a trade-off; adopting a ‘more is more’ principle might damage quality. If you commit to doing things, then might you spread yourself too thin?
Overlooking Mitigating Factors: Zealotry can also lead to inattention to contingencies: fail-safes, corrections or warnings that keep you from doing serious damage. A prudent balance and some sober reflection might serve you better in the long run, say critics.
Balancing Commitment and Practicality
To harness the power of habitual commitment while mitigating potential downsides, consider the following.
Set clear priorities: Only commit to the things that help you achieve your highest priorities. If you can’t bring more energy or resources to something that you’re doing, don’t do it.
Smart Commitment: See through your full commitments, but make sure that they are strategically planned. Get involved totally but make sure you have a structure around it that allows for adjustments if things go off track.
Self-Care: Routines, or habits, of self-care will help you protect against burnout. Enough sleep, regular healthy habits, mindful breaks allow you to maintain elevated levels of commitment without deterioration.
The Verdict
Commitment is the foundation habit of successful people. If you get in the habit of committing to your goals, you can achieve extraordinary results. If you do it in an intelligent, sustainable way. Grant Cardone’s book The 10X Rule is a great manifesto on this. His advice is don’t be afraid of commitment, you have to commit.
In testimony to its impact, my life also changed rapidly and unmistakably as soon as I began practising this habit. Certainly, one could argue against full-commitment, but with balanced strategies, you could avoid certain pitfalls.
Practise committing 100 per cent to your dreams and see where it takes you. Want to transform your life? Start with full commitment.
Study the 10X literature and embrace Cardone’s wisdom and step onto the path to an impactful life that comes as a result of your full commitment to a future of unbridled success. Let 10X be your mantra when you decide to go all-in.
