Stairway to Success: The Complete Blueprint for Personal and Professional Achievement

PRELUDE TO STEP TWO

MAKE A COMMITMENT

Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth—that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too.

—GOETHE

Every salesperson knows the difference between a decision and a commitment. A decision is when the prospect says, “Yes, I’ll buy what you’re selling.” A commitment is when you have a signature on a contract and a check in hand. Salespeople know not to count on their commissions until they have the commitments.

It’s the same way in your personal life. Making a decision is one thing; making a commitment is quite another. Many people go through life making decisions but dancing around their commitments. They’re like the suitor who keeps saying, “I’m going to marry you,” but refuses to set the date.

Life is too important to be approached without commitment. If you want to control your destiny, you must be willing to make a decision on what you want and to make a commitment to achieve it.

To make a successful commitment, you need to do these things:

1. Say good-bye to the past.
2. Create your future.
3. Cross your Rubicon.

You can’t take charge of your life without an awareness of where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going. But you can’t build your life on the past. The past is gone. Nor can you allow your destiny to be limited by present circumstances. The present is fleeting. The only place left to build your life is in the future.

You can let the future happen, or you can create ...