A Quiet Threat: How The Commitment Gap Can Negatively Impact Your Decision-Making Abilities

Read time: 2 minutes

Starting something new is hard.

I mean the actual act of starting. The decision to start…that feels easy because you're inspired and excited.

But once you tell yourself, “I’ve decided, I’m going to do it,” this gap starts to form.

I call it the commitment gap. It’s the space between choosing to do something and actually doing it.

Sometimes, the gap is short—you choose and act quickly. Other times, you decide long before acting. But it’s surprising how quickly it grows.

The wider the gap, the less likely you are to take the leap.

I’ve experienced the gap countless times.

This newsletter is a perfect representation of it. I decided years ago I wanted to share knowledge, yet I’ve hoarded it for fear of not providing enough value. Time wasted.

Now I know the simplest way to create value.

Why is the commitment gap so dangerous?

If you don't take the first step, your decision is meaningless.

The action serves as a commitment to yourself. And not taking that first step is like lying to yourself. Lie to yourself as you lie to others, and trust is lost.

That’s a big deal because it can make you doubt your own decisions in the future.

Trying to time it perfectly is analysis paralysis.

One big reason this gap gets wider is that we often wait for the "perfect" moment or conditions before starting something.

You don't want to begin from a position of weakness or make mistakes. You want to start getting closer to your goal. But the problem is that this quest for perfection can actually make the gap bigger.

Overcoming perfectionism is a powerful step toward unlocking your creative and professional potential.

There is a misplaced focus on the result.

There is also way too much concern with that first result.

You worry that the end result may not meet your high expectations. This worry can lead to "imposter syndrome," where you feel like you're not good enough. But the result, whether it's a success or a mistake, isn't the main goal.

Instead of fixating on the result, focus on building little signs that show you that you’re moving in the right direction.

Here's a simple trick to bridge the commitment gap:

Before deciding, figure out the very first thing you can do, even if it's small.

Then, as soon as you decide, take that first step. It doesn't have to be a big deal; it's about showing that you're committed. Once you've taken that first step, the next one becomes much easier.

And you're more likely to keep moving forward.

A final thought as to what is so great about this topic:

You already know everything I wrote here.

Maybe you realized it, maybe not. But you’ve experienced the commitment gap before. Possibly even named it.

It’s important to remember this: we need to be reminded more often than we need to be taught.

So respect the gap, but not too much, or you’ll let it grow too wide.

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Welcome to Impact Thinking.

Hi, I’m Peter. I quit my highly-regarded, 6-figure job at Harvard to build a strategy consulting company in 2019.

Hard work is a respectable characteristic, but it’s limiting. You need leverage. And I’ve seen first-hand that thinking is the greatest form of leverage.

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