Opinion: Keys to business success: Commitment, purpose

Thomas Douglas

You know how people say, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”? It’s all about mindset, right? I would say, “Yes, ... kinda.” We cannot forget about commitment. Life doesn’t take a break, so neither should our drive toward achieving the life we want. Sure, we all need some downtime, but making a little progress every day is key.

Doing the tough stuff takes serious commitment. There’s a big difference between saying “I’ll try” and “I’ll do whatever it takes.” That hard commitment means burning the midnight oil, waking up early and putting in the work to make things happen. We all know the toughest promises are often the ones we make to ourselves. When we don’t stick to them, it can lead to all sorts of problems, like missed deadlines or even health issues.

Commitment is about sticking with it, especially when the going gets tough. It demonstrates that the work is worth the pain. It shows our kids that giving up isn’t an option when we have responsibilities. We have to build a better tomorrow.

Here’s a simple formula for success:

1. Figure out what you want.

2. Figure out what it takes to get it.

3. Do the work daily.

4. Don’t quit.

Additionally, having a strong sense of purpose is critical for our well-being and society’s health. But a lot of people struggle to find or hold onto that purpose. A study from 2021 found that nearly 60% of young adults felt like their lives lacked meaning and purpose. Those without a clear sense of purpose were more than twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to their purposeful peers.

Research shows that older adults without a sense of purpose face a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Folks with a strong sense of purpose had a 19% lower risk of death during the study period compared to those without.

Here are some questions to ponder in business:

• Is it our job to help people find their purpose?

• Should we align our mission with the purposes of our team members?

• Is it our job to help people be happy?

• Should we help fill in the purpose gap our society has created?

People are happiest when they can be their true selves and feel like they’re making a difference. We all want to be part of a winning team and feel like our contributions matter. While it might not be a business’ job to help people find a higher purpose, the data show that doing so can have a massive impact.

If someone’s mission is to be the best spouse and parent, why can’t we help them with that? If they want to provide amazing health care, can’t we support that? If their goal is to be happy and excel at what they do, isn’t that worth fighting for?

I believe the new formula for success in business involves finding a way to align each company’s mission with the missions of our teammates, creating wins all around – for the customer, the team and the shareholder. It’s not easy, but it’s doable.

As a leader, here is how to start bringing these ideas into your organization:

• Focus on what you can impact.

• Lead more, operate less. Delegation is good for building tomorrow’s team.

• Manage your schedule to include meaningful one-on-one meetings where you coach others to grow and see things differently.

• Get comfy with “Yes, but ....” It helps you acknowledge requests and people without throwing off your own plans.

• Make time to recharge.

Just like you’d create a business plan, it’s important to have a personal life plan that covers specific areas. Think about what you want from your family, friends, spiritual life, time, health, money, work and experiences.

When we help people find a path to a happier and better life, it can have a generational impact.

Thomas Douglas is the CEO of JMark. He can be reached at tom@jmark.com.