Commitment

I’m currently reading Influence by Robert Cialdini, a book Joel bought me as my prep work before I join Fog Creek Software this summer as a marketing intern. The book discusses some of the psychological principles that are involved and, for more evil-type salesmen, can be exploited (and likewise, defended against) to get to ‘Yes.’

The chapter I’m currently on talks about the importance of commitment and consistency. For example, once people make a stand on an issue or topic (they commit), they’re much more likely to avoid thinking about that issue or topic altogether and simply act towards their decision (they’re consistent). The best way to get people to commit, it appears, is to write in a situation where their written words could be made public.

What is interesting is that this is a core function of David Allen’s Getting Things Done method. By removing goals and ideas out of each inbox area and placing them on paper in a list, you are committing to these ideas. Something on your someday/maybe list may never be completed, but you are committing that idea as something that is valid, or something that you’d like to do, or may be beneficial at some point in your life. Accordingly, you’re much more likely to act towards meeting these tasks once they’re down on paper.

I think this is also a huge benefit of having a blog. What is more public? By taking a stand on issues and topics that are interesting to you and writing about the goals you have in mind, you will be more likely to immerse yourself in these issues and complete those goals. Commit and be consistent.