Commitment

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. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genus, power and magic in it.” – W. H. Murray, the Scottish Himalayan Expedition

“Unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance” is exactly what you need to complete you destiny and create your Future. Someone once said that success is when opportunity meets preparation. Be prepared.

For those of you who do not believe in a Higher Power who will move Heaven and Earth in order to provide you with the opportunities to do what you want, think of it this way. There are opportunities around you constantly. There are people who are looking for skilled people, hard working people, people willling to do certain things. Are you the person they’re looking for? Maybe, but how will they find you unless you have the right connection? How do you get the right connection? By meeting people and knowing people and being the type of person who they would recommend.

For example, let’s say someone needs a band to fill in last minute for tonight at their bar. Are they going to ask you? Not if they don’t know you. However, if you’ve prepared enough – asked and gotten an audition, been good enough to be considered – then, they might ask you. You don’t even have to have played for the bar owner. They might ask one of their other usual bands or even the band that couldn’t make it. Do you know other bands? Do you know other bar owners or managers? Has anyone heard you play other than your other band members? Are you ready for the gig? Are you prepared enough?

If you are good enough and have gotten word out that you are a good band, then the opportunity could lead to success. If you aren’t good enough or if you haven’t bothered telling anyone that you’re in a band, then the opportunity will pass you by. Your preparation won’t lead to there being more opportunities in the world, but it will lead to there being more opportunities in your life.

Who would you rather hire, someone who’s thinking about changing careers or someone who’s been getting a degree in a new field? Someone who has written (though not published) many things and has been able to hone their skill, or someone who has been thinking about writing a novel someday? Someone you know is interested because that’s what they talk about and that’s what they’re doing with their life, or someone that you might not even know exists because they’re never at the business conventions or the free seminars or the open mike nights or anything else connected with the opportunity? Be the person they see, be the person they know about, be the person who’s good enough for the job.

Even if you don’t know what kind of Future you want to create, begin. Boldly. If you pick the wrong one and in five years you have to start over, that’s fine. If you hadn’t picked at all, in five years’ time you’d still be trying to figure out which path to take. If nothing else, you eliminate some of the clutter in your life and are able to focus more keenly on what you really want, what is really important.

Begin, and the universe will reward you.