Are You Committed to Winning?

Thursday, December 22, 2011



There's a difference between committing to something and doing it recreationally.

Consider the void between the USC and UCLA football teams. Separated by just 15 miles, these two football teams couldn't be more different.

USC has a tradition of commitment to Rose Bowl victories and national championships, while UCLA's seniors are committed to ditching the last day of practice.

One team is committed to winning, the other is not.

Small business focus and commitment 
As a small business owner, are your committed to winning?

The plague of small businesses is their nonchalant attitude about deadlines, accuracy, and doing the job right the first time. In many cases, that attitude is what keeps them a 'small' business. They're not feeding growth and a committed attitude to winning in their business practices.

Contrast the typical small business "I'll get around to it" attitude with Disneyland -- a global empire that has created an environment of mystique, fantasy, and feeling like a child whether you're 2 or 102.

Disneyland execs have measures in place to create that atmosphere. They are committed to innovation and wonder and excitement. They don't cut corners, they amaze.

Their cast members, the decor, the ambience -- every touch point is completely thought out to create and maintain that sense of awe, as if you're truly stepping into a fantasy land. Disneyland is committed to winning.

Why are you a small business owner?
Do you have a small business because you were bored one day? Because you thought you had some extra time to fill? Because it was a financial investment? Because you thought you saw an opportunity to make a few quick bucks?

Or because you are committed to winning?

To be honest, I have one business I'm committed to. I make sacrifices for it -- sleep, recreational time, gray hair, etc.

But I have another very, very small business that I'm not completely committed to.

It's a fun business, it was created spontaneously based on promising feedback. It creates bunches of smiles, and it has a lot of potential to become a novelty in our humble city. But I'm not overly committed to it.

Translation being, I'm not willing to sacrifice my time with my wife, rest and relaxation, or to just 'be.'

And correspondingly, it's not overly 'winning'.

You have to commit to resonate
Commitment isn't just an attitude. It's an attitude that reflect actions

Commitment is:
  • Sacrificing luxuries -- be it time, money, or relationships
  • Making the tough decisions
  • Investing financially and emotionally
  • Setting priorities and instilling them among staff
  • Creating and monitoring goals -- then creating them again
  • Doing it right the first time
  • Thinking and acting proactively
When you commit, customers and competitors alike recognize and respect it. You have to commit for your message to resonate with your customer.

Frankly, you have to commit to convince and remind yourself that your small business is real and to be taken seriously.

Commitment is a dedication and investment in your own brand. Without commitment, you have to seriously question why you're doing what you're doing.

Talk back
Are you committed to your small business? What's stopping you from committing? Do you think you could allocate your focus more effectively to commit to one project rather than spread across a host? Talk back and leave a comment, below.

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