Commitment vs. Devotion

It’s 10 a.m. on Thursday, hours before the major presentation for the prospective clients.

John and his team have worked tirelessly on it for weeks and are ready for one last run through before it’s go-time.

But despite his efforts to this point, John is feeling a little worn down and dealing with a family situation at home, so he skips the final rehearsal, believing his team has already done enough prep.

When the presentation takes place, though, it doesn’t go well. Timing is off between team members, John forgets an important element of the pitch, and the clients walk away slightly underwhelmed.

John’s decision to skip that morning rehearsal is a snapshot into the difference between being committed and being devoted.

Commitment

• Working hard and doing what’s required• Going the extra mile on occasion• Showing up on time and completing the task at hand• Routinely and adequately finishing the job

Devotion

• Going above and beyond at all times• Showing up early and double-checking every detail, no matter how minute• Not just finishing the present task but addressing anything else that may arise• Holding team members accountable to the larger vision

Too often, we, like John, have high ambitions and work hard to achieve our desired goals. It’s respectable and frequently makes us above average in our respective fields.

But the difference between reaching the upper echelons of our professions and merely being good at what we do often comes down to transitioning from commitment to devotion.

It means some extra sweat, it means a little more discomfort

Above all, it means setting the highest standards for ourselves and not deviating from these — making personal accountability outweigh any potential excuses.