You hear this advice constantly.

You’re probably tired of hearing it.

And you may know it, but don’t follow it.

What is it?

If you want to achieve your goals, you need to plan your work and work your plan. Sounds simple enough, right?

Why, then, do approximately 80% of businesses fail in their first year? There are many factors.

In many cases, the business owner simply does not have a systematic way to achieve their goals. Their plan is missing dates, responsibilities, and measurements, and a continuous system to fulfill on that plan.
Even if you have a systematic way to achieve your goals, there are times when goals still aren’t achieved.

Why?

Something is missing. So, what is missing, that, if present, makes a significant difference in achieving your bigger vision?

Commitment.

With over a decade working with entrepreneurs, I have observed three stages of commitment. The three stages are

• Interested
• Initiator
• Innovator

So if you want to make a big impact in the world with your area of expertise, take a moment to identify your commitment stage which may give you insights on your next action. We all make choices on our stage of commitment each and every day.

There’s not a wrong or a right stage and there may be changes in the commitment level depending on what it is. For example, I enjoy decorating and I’m interested in it but I have no interest in becoming a professional decorator so I’m not committed at the highest stage to taking action on it. I enjoy it. I may be interested in it but not enough to inspire consistent action.

When interested, you have a curiosity in having an impact in a certain area, but you are easily distracted. You may take some action, but you don’t have a plan mapped out. If you’re at the Interested Commitment Stage in growing your business, you may want to ask yourself if you are building a business or have a hobby.

In the Initiator Commitment Stage, you have a plan, you take action, and may even incrementally invest in yourself and your business. You are involved in your business and in action. You may have some structures and systems and even achieve a level of success.

Your performance levels, however, are inconsistent. There is a level of productivity and there’s something in your commitment still stopping short from realizing your full vision.
I see this in my own life in getting fit. I take action, I have routines in place, but my performance level is inconsistent.

If you’re at the Innovator Commitment Stage, you are a pioneer in your area of expertise. This is where you open yourself up to new ways to make a bigger impact in the world.
You continuously set new standards in your own performance and have a systematized process of measuring results.

When you are living in the world of the Innovator Commitment Stage, you are:
• Recognized as the go-to leader in your field
• Continuously investing in yourself as a leader, in your team, and your business
• Achieving high levels of abundance
• Making a significant contribution greater than yourself

Assessing your stage of commitment at various times can be a helpful tool in determining your next steps in building a business you love and having a significant contribution in the world.

What’s your stage of commitment in your business and areas of your life?