A Better Plan Than Retirement
February 1, 2023Scam Alert
March 8, 2023In the past, I've written various articles related to operating with a high degree of integrity. Today, however, I would like to delve deeper into the topic of honoring your commitments.
My decision to prioritize honoring my commitments began when I entered the business world at 14, nearly five decades ago. At the time, I had one simple operating principle that I lived by – I did what I said I would do – 100% of the time. Once I got older and started my own company, Graphic Connections Group, at 30 years old, this principle became one of two basic principles I would live and operate all of my businesses by. And as a continual reminder, I put them in writing and hung them on the wall in my office where they remain to this day.
The two basic principles I operate my businesses by are:
Do what you say you are going to do – 100% of the time
Return all phone calls in 60 minutes or less.
This is simple stuff. But I’ve found that by doing these two things, pretty much everything else falls into place. Granted, returning all phone calls in 60 minutes or less might seem over the top, and some may even deem it unnecessary. But you had better believe that if you do this consistently, people will notice. That’s because the reality of our world is that almost no one does either of these things.
Whether it’s friends, family, or business associates, it’s rare to find someone who consistently delivers on what they promise. But those who do, time after time, will stand out. That’s why when my son, who recently started a painting company, came to me for advice on how to be successful, I added one more important point to my two basic principles:
Do what you say you're going to do – 100% of the time.
Return all phone calls in 60 minutes or less.
Make sure the work you provide is first class – every time.
No matter what business you’re in, if you do these three things, people will be clamoring to hire you. My son has been following this advice for two years with great success and has more work than he can handle.
Why does this advice work so well?
Because maintaining strong relationships is the key to success in business. And the essential ingredients for building strong relationships are communication, trust, and credibility. Honoring your commitments 100% of the time is a great way to show that you're trustworthy, which, when coupled with first class service and work, lends to your overall credibility. And if you’re credible and people can trust you, they will do business with you. And they’ll probably refer their friends and family to you as well. It's that simple.
The same goes for personal relationships. When you commit to doing something, whether picking up the dry cleaning, taking out the trash, or calling your friend back in a timely fashion, make sure you do it. Because if you don't, those who know you will start to question whether they can trust you to follow through. And once that happens, it becomes much harder to rebuild that trust.
Your actions will always speak louder than your words.
The most common excuse people give for not being able to uphold a commitment is that they’re too busy. I have to call BS on that excuse. I'm as busy as anyone. I run a $20 million company, lead several volunteer organizations, write books and newsletters, exercise every day, spend time with my family, and stay busy almost every waking moment. Despite all that is going on, I consistently deliver on my promises. Whether it's phone calls or emails, I make sure I respond in a timely fashion. So, how can I do all of this while so many others don’t even come close?
It’s a matter of priorities.
My integrity fuels how I prioritize my day. If I’ve made a promise or someone is expecting a response from me, then following through with that becomes my priority. And since I take great pride in my principles, it kills me if I fail to meet a promise I made. (Yes, occasionally I fail, but it is rare, and when I do, I go out of my way to make it up, because falling below that 100% promise upsets me.) My word is my bond and I take that VERY seriously.
The unfiltered truth is that most people have become complacent.
They've allowed their standards to slip in the name of "being busy", and as a result, their relationships and credibility have suffered. But the problem with this is that being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being productive. In fact, I'd argue that the majority of people who say they’re “too busy” are simply “too distracted.” They’ve prioritized the wrong things, and as a result, their commitments and promises fall through the cracks.
But the good news is that it’s never too late to course correct.
If your distractions are keeping you so busy that you can’t seem to live up to your commitments, the first thing you can do is figure out what’s stealing valuable time and eliminate it. You can most likely achieve this by simply putting your phone away, except for when you absolutely need it for communication.
I realize that most people view their smartphones as an extension of their arm, but the truth is that we allow them to control us far more than they should. And because of this, the smartphone has become the single most significant time drain in today’s society. If you’re honest with yourself, you probably waste several hours a day scrolling through social media or reading news articles that don’t really matter. And all that wasted time keeps you from doing things that are actually important, like keeping your commitments.
If you want to improve your life and relationships, put down your phone and start following through on your promises. This is one of the fastest ways to become the person you want to be. You’ll be amazed by how much more time you have in the day, and you’ll become the person that people can depend on, which is an excellent reputation to have. I bet many of the problems you have in your life will magically disappear with this simple action. Try it.
