Are You Interested, or Are You Committed?

"There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you are committed, you accept no excuses—only results." – Art Turock

A few years ago, I was at a conference and heard a speaker share a quirky yet profound take on commitment. He said:

"I had bacon and eggs for breakfast this morning. The chicken was involved, but the pig was COMMITTED."

While this may sound a little cheesy, it stuck with me. It made me reflect deeply: How committed am I really to the things I say I’m committed to?

Or, as the legendary coach Steve Chandler often asks, "Are you interested, or are you committed?"

In my 50 years as a martial arts instructor, I’ve had the honor of working with thousands of students. Of those, hundreds have reached the prestigious rank of Black Belt and beyond. But here’s the thing—what sets these students apart isn’t physical prowess. It isn’t about strength, flexibility, or athletic ability. It has nothing to do with gender, background, or education.

What makes the difference is commitment. As we often say in martial arts, “A Black Belt is a White Belt that never quit.”

Commitment, not talent or circumstance, is the real key to achieving success. It’s the consistent decision to show up, day after day, even when it’s hard, even when things don’t go according to plan. It’s about making a decision and sticking with it until the results are undeniable.

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Over the years, both in martial arts and life coaching, I’ve noticed that people who truly commit to their dreams, goals, and aspirations tend to follow three guiding principles. These are the same principles that I’ve seen help countless students and clients reach their highest potential:

1) Pre-Commitment: Decide Before You Need To Decide

One of the biggest challenges we face when we’re trying to create a new habit or goal is that we often wait until we’re in the moment to make the decision. But here’s the problem: when you’re in the middle of a moment of resistance, it’s too easy to back out.

For example, if you’ve committed to taking a morning run, don’t leave the decision up to your groggy self when you wake up in a warm bed. Instead, set your running shoes and gear out the night before. Make it a pre-commitment—something that has already been decided before you even wake up. When the alarm rings, your only decision is to follow through.

By planning ahead and removing the decision-making process, you take away the chance for excuses to creep in.

2) Schedule It: Make Time for What Matters

What you truly commit to should have space in your calendar. And I don’t mean vague “someday” plans. I mean actual, scheduled time.

For example, if “date night” with your spouse is something you value, put it on the calendar and treat it like any important meeting or event. No moving it around. If you plan to do it “after everything else,” chances are it will never happen. Life will always find a way to fill your time with distractions, tasks, and responsibilities.

I’ve learned over the years that anything that matters deserves a place on your calendar. That’s where the real commitment happens—when you prioritize it and make it non-negotiable.

3) Focus on the 1%: Consistency Beats Perfection

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about big changes or goals. The temptation is often to overcommit, to do everything at once, and then burn out. In fact, that’s a common trap I see many people fall into. They push too hard, too fast, and end up giving up because they’re too far out of their comfort zone.

This is where the concept of the “1% improvement” comes in. As Lanny Bassham, an expert in mental coaching, says: instead of trying to make drastic changes that push you into panic mode, focus on making small, incremental improvements each day. Aim for just 1% better every day.

Let me break it down: If you made a 1% improvement every day, at the end of one year, you’d be 37 times better than when you started. After two years, that would compound to 1,400 times better. And after five years? You’d be 76 million times better. That’s the power of consistent, small changes.

This idea ties directly into the wisdom shared by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits: “Good habits don’t add up, they compound.” The key is sticking with it, no matter how small the progress seems at the time.

So, as you think about your next big goal or intention, I encourage you to ask yourself: Are you truly committed? Are you willing to make the small, consistent decisions day after day to make your dreams a reality?

If you’re ready to stop being “interested” and truly start being “committed,” I’m here to help. Whether it’s through coaching or speaking, I can guide you in taking those consistent actions that will transform your vision into real, measurable results.

Are you ready to step into your commitment?

Let’s make it happen together.

Chris Natzke
Black Belt Leadership – Speaking & Coaching