Commitment Comes With A Cost

High achievers want more - To be a part of more, to contribute more, to do more, and to be more. For that reason high achievers set big goals in their fitness, business, and life… And cast share their visions so that they can recruit the help, support, and good fortune they need to make it a reality.

But here’s the part high achievers don’t talk about: Achieving your goals comes with a cost, and sometimes, it’s a cost you're unwilling to pay. 

John Assaraf is known for saying “When you set a goal you must be willing to trade your life for it.” because that’s what you’re doing. It’s not just that you double your business, start working out 5 times a week, and go on an international vacation twice a year. When you invite something new into your life you’re pushing something else out, or at the very least changing how it works.

That’s why you need to be really thoughtful about the way you craft your goals. You don’t want to just achieve what’s on your heart at all costs… There are assumed conditions within the goal that represent a more specific version of what you want. Be clear about those conditions and then it creates more criteria that go into your plan for goal achievement.

And I’m not immune to this problem. For example, I set the goal to run my first marathon this year. But, given how much travel and unexpected additions the first half of this year has had, I’m not making progress on it. And that’s because I don’t actually want to trade my current life for the achievement of this goal. I want a version of it that doesn’t compromise my ability to be spontaneous for other opportunities.

So a more aligned representation of the true intention behind this goal, that I feel more prepared to be committed to, is: To do my best to run a marathon at Runningman without stopping, and to genuinely prioritize training for it.

It’s not as inspiring… Some would argue I’m way less likely to achieve it because I’m giving myself an out. And I agree. But it’s more true to me. I don’t want to run a marathon this year at all costs. If I did, I wouldn’t add all the extra conditions. But structuring it like this offers a practicality that gets you headed in the right direction. 

To wrap up with another thought from John Assaraf, he often asks the question “When it comes to achieving your goals, are you interested or are you committed?” Because being ‘interested’ means you think it’d be nice for it to happen, but it lacks follow through. Being committed means you will do whatever it takes to achieve it. And doing my best to run a marathon, that’s something I can confidently commit to.