Many people say they want to be the Best at things.
Yet, rarely does it happen.
Why is that?
I saw an interesting quote today, and a response to the quote that I felt was very fitting to help us Understand this.
"To finish first, you must first finish." - Juan Manuel Fangio
The Reality is that few people see things through to the finish.
Many people Start, but Few Finish.
If you Fail to Finish, You Will Fail to Succeed.
But is this the Problem?
Or is there something that "Causes" this Problem?
I would say that this is a second-order consequence of something upstream.
What is that?
Dan Goldin, someone who frequently reacts to my LinkedIn Articles (I appreciate you, Dan) and has made an incredible impact as the Longest-Tenured Administrator at NASA, put it well.
"Once you commit to something, finish it." - Dan Goldin
Dan has gotten to the Root of the Problem with his statement - Commitment.
We live in a World where people are Rarely Committed to Anything.
If You are not Committed to Anything, You will Never Finish Anything, and You Will Fail to Succeed.
But there is an Important Key to making this work to the Fullest.
Commitment is, "Being Dedicated to a Cause."
But what "Cause" is Worth Being Dedicated To?
This is the Issue at Hand.
Most people find them Uncommitted because what they Chase in Life is not "Worth" being Dedicated To.
So often, people are "Committed" to things that Provide No Value to their Lives.
The Classic Example Here?
Money.
So often people Chase trying to get as Much Money as Possible as Quickly as Possible.
But what happens to their Lives?
They end up being Horrible.
They are Lonely.
They Lack Happiness or Self-Worth.
They Feel Lost, Depressed, Angry, and so many other Emotions.
Even in their "Commitment" to Money, they aren't Deeply Committed.
Money is not "Truly" Valuable.
Money is only a "Representation" of Value.
But that Representation of Value is Meaningless if it is Not Guided Toward Anything of "True" Value.
So often Leaders Fail because their Only Commitment is to "Money" or "Profit", which in and of itself is Meaningless.
How many Businesses Begin where the Goal is to Raise their Valuation to be High Enough to Sell the Business?
There is No True Commitment in that type of Business.
They are Not Looking to be Dedicated to that Business Outcome.
They are Not Dedicated to their Employees.
They are Not Even Dedicated to the Product or Service.
Then, let's look at the Problems that so many Leaders often face.
Why do so many Leaders Struggle with their Employees?
It is very Simple.
The Leaders are Not Committed to their Employees.
So let me ask a Question - If the Leader is Not Dedicated to their Employees, "Why" would the Employees "Choose" to be Dedicated to their Leaders?
Why would Employees be Dedicated to the Business Goals?
Why would they Care about the Profit Margins?
They Wouldn't.
Indeed, we Frequently See that Employees are Disengaged, Quiet Qutting, Burnt Out, and More.
When Leaders are Not Committed to Businesses or Employees, and Employees are Not Committed to Organizations...
Is it a Wonder that We See the Problems We See?
People Work to get a Paycheck, but because Money is Not "True" Value, they Will "Never" be Committed to It.
When No One in an Organization is Committed to Anything, What Happens?
No One Finishes Anything.
When No One Finishes Anything, there is No Success.
You can "Never" Finish First in "Anything" of Value if No One is Committed.
This also Means that the Solution is Quite Simple.
Be Committed to Things of Value.
Be Committed to those You Lead.
Be Committed to the Long Term Success of the Business.
Be Committed to the Long Term Success of Customers.
Be Committed to Developing Relationships for the Long Term, with Suppliers, with Partners, with Employees, with Family.
When you are "Truly" Committed to things of Value, It Becomes Very Easy to Finish and Follow Through.
When No One Else is Committed to Anything around you, You will Discover that You Finish First Frequently.
Being First is Easy when You're the Only One Truly Committed.