Digital Dealer - December 2017 - 7

strate commitment.
2. Commitment manifests in change and
risk. When you pledge
yourself to something
you deeply crave, you'll
need to change what
you're doing to achieve
it. In fact, if doing what
you're doing currently
was enough to attain
the goal you're committed to, you would
probably already have
it. Thus, you will need to
give up what's comfortable and familiar in
some areas for what's
uncomfortable and unfamiliar, in order to grow
to the point that you can
reach your goal. The old
adage is true, "If nothing
changes, then nothing
changes;" so, committed people are willing
to sacrifice temporary
ease for temporary
discomfort, to attain significant achievement.
3. Commitment is
about having a cause
bigger than yourself
which you put ahead of
your own selfish agenda. If you're on a team
it means putting the
welfare and goals of the
team before what's best
for your comfort zone
or pride. In a family,
it's about sacrificing for
your spouse, kids, and
your future together.
As John Maxwell said
well, "If you're just in it
for yourself you're in a
mighty small business."
Commitment to a meaningful cause can often

draw out in you what you
never knew existed in
the first place. It gives
purpose and passion not
just to work but to life.
4. Commitment manifests in persistence.
Persistence means "to
steadfastly advance in
pursuit of a goal despite
obstacles or setbacks."
Thus, persistent people
don't quit when it gets
tough, when they lose, or
when it hurts. When you
pledge yourself to some-

the month turns out poorly. There will be setbacks
and disappointments
on the journey to what
you've committed to.
That's not the question.
The question will be: How
quickly can you recover,
get back in your zone-
mentally and physically-and begin executing
again what matters most
daily?
6. Commitment manifests in personal responsibility-owning it. Truly

AS JOHN MAXWELL
SAID WELL, 'IF YOU'RE
JUST IN IT FOR
YOURSELF YOU'RE
IN A MIGHTY SMALL
BUSINESS.'"
thing you work through
those things because
what you aspire to be, or
to have, is worth the fight.
This is why it's important
to carefully choose what,
or whom, you commit to:
it needs to be worth the
sacrifice, pain of change,
risk, and persistence
required to attain it.
5. Commitment
manifests in resilience.
Resilience is different than persistence.
Resilience means "an
ability to recover quickly
from disappointments,
setbacks or defeat." One
may have persistence to
keep fighting through a
tough month, but lack the
resilience to get back on
track and motivated after

committed people don't
have time for excuses,
blame games or other
various "loser's limps" to
explain away their lack
of progress or results.
They are so focused on
what they can control and
impact on a daily basis
that they don't have time
to whine about conditions they can't control.
They remain humble and
teachable, believing that
ultimately, it's up to them
to make it happen-and
genuinely committed
people wouldn't have it
any other way.
7. Commitment manifests in consistency.
Consistency can actually
work against you when
you consistently execute

what's ineffective or
unproductive. However,
consistently making sacrifices, changing and risking to break from comfort
zones, subordinating
your agenda to a greater
cause, and demonstrating persistence and
resilience can make
you unstoppable as you
pursue your personal and
business goals.
So, if your team were
grading you on these
seven items as being
a leader who was truly
committed, or simply
interested, how would
you fare? And how is
your personal example
impacting the team's own
level of commitment on a
daily basis? As a leader, if
you're not committed, you
can hardly expect your
people to be. You have
no credibility asking your
people to run through a
wall unless you're willing
to go first, and do it every
day.
DAVE ANDERSON is
President of LearnToLead,
which provides in-person
and virtual training to
many of the world's best
dealerships. Dave speaks to
dealer groups over 125 times
each year and has given
seminars in 15 countries.
He's written the leadership
column for Dealer Magazine
for the past 15 years. Dave's
13th book, "It's Not Rocket
Science: 4 Simple Strategies
for Mastering the Art of
Execution" is now available
worldwide. For leadership
tips follow Dave on Twitter @
DaveAnderson100. EMAIL:
dave@learntolead.com

D I G I TA L D E A L E R . C O M

DECEMBER 2017

7
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Dealer - December 2017
