Growing Talent Development Firms: Involved vs. Committed

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You’ve probably heard this joke before: In a bacon and egg breakfast, what's the difference between the chicken and the pig? The chicken was involved, but the pig was committed.

You’ve probably heard this joke before: In a bacon and egg breakfast, what's the difference between the chicken and the pig? The chicken was involved, but the pig was committed.

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How involved or committed are you with your business? In other words, are you the chicken or the pig? Certainly, being involved and being committed are different in degree and scope. For some, the difference will define not only how they act, but often the results achieved in creating and sustaining a long-term profitable business.

How involved or committed are you with your business? In other words, are you the chicken or the pig? Certainly, being involved and being committed are different in degree and scope. For some, the difference will define not only how they act, but often the results achieved in creating and sustaining a long-term profitable business.

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No doubt, to be truly committed to your business, you have to first be involved. But while the latter is necessary, it’s not quite sufficient for the former. That is, simply being involved may never transform into totally being committed, because the latter requires a deeper set of feelings, empathy, and understanding of the business, its partners, and relationships. Being committed typically requires a deeper level of being in touch with the inner workings of the business—fully embracing what it is, and even a willingness to accept its deficiencies. On the other hand, it’s important to note that both can fall victim to becoming mired in details and poor decisions.

No doubt, to be truly committed to your business, you have to first be involved. But while the latter is necessary, it’s not quite sufficient for the former. That is, simply being involved may never transform into totally being committed, because the latter requires a deeper set of feelings, empathy, and understanding of the business, its partners, and relationships. Being committed typically requires a deeper level of being in touch with the inner workings of the business—fully embracing what it is, and even a willingness to accept its deficiencies. On the other hand, it’s important to note that both can fall victim to becoming mired in details and poor decisions.

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This might be an issue of semantics. But being committed versus being involved are distinguishable on many levels, and each has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look:

This might be an issue of semantics. But being committed versus being involved are distinguishable on many levels, and each has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look:

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If you are involved in your business, then you most probably:

If you are involved in your business, then you most probably:

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  Want to be at work, but more often feel you have to be.

  Want to be at work, but more often feel you have to be.

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  Like being in charge and the title that comes with that.

  Like being in charge and the title that comes with that.

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  Rarely see failure as a result of your own shortcomings.

  Rarely see failure as a result of your own shortcomings.

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  Have no trouble falling and staying asleep.

  Have no trouble falling and staying asleep.

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  Are extremely careful about allocating additional resources to the business, even when needed.

  Are extremely careful about allocating additional resources to the business, even when needed.

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  Are boastful to the outside about the successes of the business.

  Are boastful to the outside about the successes of the business.

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  Very much care for employees—as long as they do what is asked of them.

  Very much care for employees—as long as they do what is asked of them.

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  Are very engaged in the work itself, but not necessarily the business.

  Are very engaged in the work itself, but not necessarily the business.

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  View customers as sometimes a necessary evil.

  View customers as sometimes a necessary evil.

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  Can detach from the business at any time or any place.

  Can detach from the business at any time or any place.

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  See business success as largely a function of your own personal success.

  See business success as largely a function of your own personal success.

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  Can’t wait for a vacation to get “recharged.”

  Can’t wait for a vacation to get “recharged.”

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If you are committed to your business, then you most probably:

If you are committed to your business, then you most probably:

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  Can’t wait to get to work.

  Can’t wait to get to work.

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  Think about the business all the time.

  Think about the business all the time.

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  Take failures very personally.

  Take failures very personally.

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  Can’t fall and stay asleep because of business-related thoughts.

  Can’t fall and stay asleep because of business-related thoughts.

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  Will unconditionally commit the necessary time, money, and resources to grow the business.

  Will unconditionally commit the necessary time, money, and resources to grow the business.

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  Have a hard time taking vacations because of the work that needs to be done.

  Have a hard time taking vacations because of the work that needs to be done.

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  Care deeply for the well-being of your employees and customers.

  Care deeply for the well-being of your employees and customers.

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  Are passionate about delivering the very best service to your customers.

  Are passionate about delivering the very best service to your customers.

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  Are connected to the business 24/7.

  Are connected to the business 24/7.

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  Accept business success as the result of a collaborative effort of all involved.

  Accept business success as the result of a collaborative effort of all involved.

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  Are committed to writing and speaking about the business.

  Are committed to writing and speaking about the business.

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  View customers as the lifeblood of your business.

  View customers as the lifeblood of your business.

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So, what’s the difference? The primary distinction is an internal vs. external mindset. Being committed is more focused on the business than on oneself, and vice-versa for being involved in the business. Being committed means recognizing, embracing, and rewarding what others are doing to help the business grow, whereas being involved means accepting but tolerating how others are contributing, often with complaints about how much more they could be doing. Certainly, it isn’t as black and white as I have made it out to be; there are some things about your business with which you may only want to be involved and others to which you are totally committed. It is important to know which is which.

So, what’s the difference? The primary distinction is an internal vs. external mindset. Being committed is more focused on the business than on oneself, and vice-versa for being involved in the business. Being committed means recognizing, embracing, and rewarding what others are doing to help the business grow, whereas being involved means accepting but tolerating how others are contributing, often with complaints about how much more they could be doing. Certainly, it isn’t as black and white as I have made it out to be; there are some things about your business with which you may only want to be involved and others to which you are totally committed. It is important to know which is which.

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One could argue that being fully committed to your business as described above might be a little dysfunctional. After all, don’t we all need more balance in our work lives? Indeed, some experts contend that being “too” committed can be harmful to your health—even though your business maybe more successful. But, in general, it is probably safe to say that all things being equal, owners who are truly committed to their businesses are likely to observe better sustainable performance than those who are just involved in it.

One could argue that being fully committed to your business as described above might be a little dysfunctional. After all, don’t we all need more balance in our work lives? Indeed, some experts contend that being “too” committed can be harmful to your health—even though your business maybe more successful. But, in general, it is probably safe to say that all things being equal, owners who are truly committed to their businesses are likely to observe better sustainable performance than those who are just involved in it.

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Where are you with your business? Are you involved or are you committed? What is the upside and downside to wherever you are on this continuum?

Where are you with your business? Are you involved or are you committed? What is the upside and downside to wherever you are on this continuum?

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To learn more, check out my book The Complete Guide to Building and Growing a Talent Development Firm .

To learn more, check out my book The Complete Guide to Building and Growing a Talent Development Firm.