“How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I’m committed to?” ~Anthony Robbins

Yesterday, I made a public commitment that I would have my first book for sale, in at least 2 formats, by 5pm Central Time on Wednesday September 17th, 2008.  Why did I make that commitment here on this blog?  I did it to get leverage on myself.

For me, and for most people that I know, it is easy to break promises that are made just to ourselves.  When the promise is made to someone else however, someone that I like and respect, I feel terrible if I don’t fulfill that promise.  Since I know this, if I am having an issue getting something done, then it is time to make a public commitment.  This is exactly what I did on this blog yesterday and I can feel the power of this working already.

This is negative motivation and it is very powerful.  I do most of my work, with myself and with others, from a place of positive motivation.  There are times however, and this is one of them for me, when I also need the away from “push” of a strong negative motivator.  I don’t want to feel the bad feelings that would be there for me should I not achieve my public goal; so I know I will take the actions that I have been putting off.

This power of the commitment to someone else, someone that you like and respect, is one of the reasons that coaching can be so effective.  A good coach will be asking you to make well-planned and achievable commitments each and every time you work with them.  What is well-planned and achievable?  That is another conversation.

Till next time…Jack

“Nothing interferes with my concentration.  You could put on an orgy in my office and I wouldn’t look up.  Well, maybe once.” ~Isaac Asimov