If You Commit to Nothing, You'll Be Distracted by Everything
This LLATW is a close cousin to my previously posted lesson – Lesson #10. I can’t recall where I heard or learned it first, but it speaks to me. It applies to everything from business strategy decision making, to focusing on a more specific customer base, to managing your calendar – and everything in between.
Most people think the hard part is deciding what to commit to. It’s not. The hard part is sticking to it when other things come along.
The world is full of distractions disguised as opportunities. They’re shiny, and they all seem urgent. But if you chase every shiny thing, you end up with nothing.
The trick is to understand that committing means saying no. When you choose one thing, you un-choose everything else. That’s what makes it work. It forces you to focus.
People think they can hedge and keep their options open, but hedging is a way to avoid deciding. You can’t hedge your way into greatness. All the best work comes from commitment—starting and finishing the book, building the product, and shipping it.
If you don’t commit, you’re like a dog chasing squirrels. You’ll always be running after the next thing and never catch anything.
It feels scary to commit because it feels final. What if you choose the wrong thing? But the truth is, it doesn’t matter much what you choose, if you finish it. Committing teaches you discipline, and discipline carries over to the next thing.
When you commit, distractions stop being a problem. They don’t disappear, but they lose their power. You don’t waste time wondering what you’re missing. You know what you’re doing, and that’s enough.
Lesson Learned: The real risk isn’t choosing the wrong thing. It’s not choosing at all.