How Much Will You Invest

How Much Will You Invest?
By Sean Alexander

Accomplishing goals and objectives, whether on the job, at home, or even on vacation, requires that we give something of ourselves to the endeavor. At least in our current reality, there is no magic wand to wave and have things simply appear for the asking. Would that it was so, but it isn’t.

Investment of self in any worthwhile venture is a requirement for accomplishment, but how much investment is needed? Perhaps the more important question is how much are we willing to invest? To bound this somewhat, let’s think in terms of three levels at which we might contribute to an undertaking: Involvement, Engagement, and Commitment.

Involvement is the lowest level at which we can give ourselves to a project. To be involved means to participate. At this level we show up, usually. We take in information, and we offer some opinions and ideas. Work gets done—pretty much; then we go home. Overtime? Not too much, and certainly not often. It would be nice if the project is successful, but if not, well, such is life. We do give of ourselves, but not too much and not deeply.

Engagement requires that we bring more to the table. At this level we find that we are somewhat eager to get to work; showing up is rarely an issue. While information comes to us from many sources, it’s never enough; we constantly seek more. More information. More knowledge. More ways to make things work. And we offer not only opinions and ideas, but considered opinions, and hypotheses that can be tested. Overtime is not the issue. The issue is whether or not the work is done. And, of course, we know when the work is done because in advance of starting the work we determined the meaning of "Done." In other words, we focus on the result, not the activities that lead to it. When we are fully engaged, the work doesn’t just get done, it gets done right. We know it’s done right because we review our work before we pass it on. Engagement is an enjoyable way to work.

Commitment is the pinnacle of contribution. To be committed is to be "all in." This is where the atmosphere is rare; where the tentative, timid and timorous souls never dare go. There is vibrancy to every aspect of the undertaking. When a better approach seems evident, we don’t hesitate to challenge the status quo. Likewise we don’t fear conflict, because we know it can make our contribution so much more effective. Risks aren’t ignored. They are identified as early as possible, plans for their mitigation are determined and then they are closely tracked to ensure they are resolved appropriately.

Commitment leaves no wiggle room. We must—not should, not could, not might, but must—drive relentlessly to conclusions.* We challenge others to more fully invest themselves, yet we demand so much more of ourselves. Each day ends with the sweet exhaustion of having given our all to the day.

*It was W.H. Murray (1913 – 1996), in The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (1951), who said, "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way."

It’s very difficult to describe commitment. It’s meant to be experienced and embraced. Commitment isn’t surviving; it’s being alive, conscious of nuance and aware of meaning. It’s finding little truths in everyday things. It’s performing beyond our perceived capabilities, and giving so completely, so thoroughly that we stand in awe of ourselves.

When we concern ourselves with any enterprise, large or small, it is important to consider these three levels of contribution. There is a strong temptation to believe that some things, perhaps most things, don’t need or deserve our A-game, our commitment. Thus, we think it acceptable to not "over do" our contribution; Involvement, or certainly Engagement, should suffice. Commitment, we believe, is just for the big things in life.

I submit that there is a better approach. Why not simply give ourselves only to those things that deserve our commitment? Why waste time, energy and other precious resources on things that simply don’t really matter all that much? In other words, why not strive to do only big things? To live on The Vital Edge is to live the fullest life; the most meaningful existence. While a sometimes scary way to think and live, it’s the only approach that deserves our full and undivided attention; our commitment.

To Your Vital Success,

Sean Alexander

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Sean Alexander is President of VitalThought, a boutique consulting company that focuses on Results-Based Management. His monthly ezine, The Vital Edge, helps executives, project managers and team members discover project and personal success with results-based strategies and tactics. If you're ready to energize your projects and yourself, investigate the possibilities at www.vitalthought.com.