Promises, Promises

Back in the 1960s, there was a hit Broadway show called Promises, Promises.

The plot of the show has absolutely nothing to do with this recording.

Except for the title.

Because it got me thinking about promises.

How many promises have you made in your life?

If you’re like me, plenty.

But here’s the more interesting question:

How many of them did you keep?

If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve broken your fair share.

And when we break a promise, we’re not just breaking our word. We’re breaking trust.

People start wondering if they can count on us.

Our reputation takes a hit.

And if it happens often enough, it can start to fracture our relationships.

You don't have to look much further than marriage.

Traditional wedding vows are built around promises of love, support, fidelity, and lifelong devotion – through good times and bad, sickness and health, and all the other stuff life throws our way.

And, well . . .

About half of marriages don't make it.

And some of us have broken those promises more than once.

But this isn't about failed marriages.

It's about something much simpler.

An old expression:

“Your word is your bond.”

I like that.

Years ago, I made a promise to myself that when I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to follow through.

Unless there's an act of God that prevents me.

Or if I forget.

And, if I'm being completely honest, forgetting is probably the more likely of the two.

Have I broken that promise?

Sure.

But not nearly as often as I used to.

And that's really the point.

This isn't about me.

It's about us.

How do we become a little more respectful of our word?

Well, every time you follow through on something you've said you're going to do, you're telling the people around you, “You can count on me.”

And the more often you do that, the stronger that bond becomes.

Want more respect?

Want people to trust you? Want to trust yourself more?

Start by being careful about what you promise.

Because if you keep making promises you can't – or don't – keep, your reputation and your relationships are eventually headed for the trash heap.

So, if your habit is to automatically say “yes” whenever somebody asks you to do something, try something different.

Say:

“Let me get back to you.”

That's it.

“Let me get back to you.”

It gives you a little time to think.

Can I really do this?

Do I really want to do this?

And, most importantly…

Am I actually going to follow through?

That little pause might save you from making a promise you can't keep.

And it'll keep your promises . . .

off the used-car lot.

All the best,

John