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Promise
                                                                             photo by: discoodoni

In the dictionary, the word promise means “pledge to do, bring about, or provide”.  A simple definition, but a powerful message.  We make promises all the time:

  • To people: “I promise to call you tonight at 8″  
  • In business: “The project will be completed by next Tuesday as promised.” 
  • To God: “I promise to be more understanding of others.” 
  • And to yourself: “I promise to be in shape in 3 months.” 

And since we can’t expect to do and be everything to everyone all the time (How dare you!), some promises tend to not be kept.  Now you may be thinking, “What’s the big deal?  It’s not like un-kept promises will come back to bite me in the butt, right?  Consider the following promises made:

Read my lips: No new taxes.

- George H.W. Bush in the 1988 Republican National Convention

Remember how that one turned out?  He sure did.

I promise not to take an apple from THAT tree.

 - Eve in the Garden of Eden

After that the neighborhood was never quite the same.

I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

- Wimpy to Popeye, Olive, and pretty much anybody he sees when he’s hungry, which is all the time by the way.

Besides obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, no one wants to buy the guy a  burger anymore.

Sucks, doesn’t it?

When you give your word, you are making a commitment.  You are putting your reputation at stake, your integrity on the line  This will shape how people perceive you (Are you the person that keeps their word or the bum that is all talk?)  Remember, when it comes to promises, people are like elephants - they never forget.  So it’s important to have some “promise guidelines.”  Here are a few:

  • Be a promise prude:  Don’t give it up so easily.  Say “I promise” enough times without keeping it, eventually it will lose it’s meaning.
  • Know what you’re getting yourself into:  A promise is a contract between you and another entity and can be legally binding, especially if it’s in writing.  I knew a guy that signed up for 30 dollars for a 20 mile charity walk thinking it was a nice way for him to give to charity, only to find out later that he actually “agreed” to 30 dollars a mile.  $600 later, he’s now a promise miser.  At least it’s tax deductible. 
  • Your word is your bond:  “Dictum Meum Pactum” - Latin for “My word is my bond” - the motto adopted by the London Stock Exchange.  Back then you used your reputation as collateral to get a loan.  Suffice it to say people back then made sure their “word” was in sterling condition.  Shouldn’t you do the same?
  • Under-promise and over-deliver:  When you do make a promise, do everything in your power to keep it.  And if possible, always go above and beyond.  Not only will they be glad you made it, the extra effort will be greatly appreciated.

So does this really work?  It does, I promise you.

Thanks for reading.