The Best Commitment You Can Make: Becoming Better for Others

Mar 11

Most people approach relationships—whether in business, leadership, or life—with a flawed mindset:

“I’ll take care of you if you take care of me.”

On the surface, it sounds fair. A mutual exchange, right? But in reality, this thinking is self-centered and creates dependency. It puts the responsibility for your success, growth, and well-being in someone else’s hands.

A better way?

“I’ll take care of me for you, if you take care of you for me.”

This isn’t just about self-reliance—it’s about a higher level of commitment to personal development. It’s about showing up every day, every week, every month as the best version of yourself—not just for you, but for the people around you.

The Power of Personal Responsibility

Whether in business, friendships, or romantic relationships, the best contribution you can make isn’t doing things for others—it’s committing to becoming better so you can show up stronger.

If you take care of your own development, you bring more value to your team.
If you take care of your own finances, you remove stress from your relationships.
If you take care of your own mindset, you don’t become a burden to others.

When people rely on each other without taking responsibility for themselves, they create a fragile system—one where everything falls apart the moment one person stops pulling their weight. But when everyone takes ownership of their own growth, everyone benefits because the collective standard rises.

How This Applies to Business

If your relationship with your manager, leader, or team is built on the idea that they have to take care of you, you’re limiting your own potential. But if you show up every day committed to being better, sharper, stronger, the entire team grows.

You don’t wait for your manager to motivate you—you take ownership of your drive.
You don’t wait for your company to train you—you invest in your own learning.
You don’t expect someone else to fix your problems—you find solutions yourself.

This mindset leaves everyone feeling better off. The alternative—expecting others to do the work for you—is selfish, short-sighted, and ultimately unsustainable.

The Relationship Parallel

Think about when people first start dating.

Guys get a fresh haircut, hit the gym, dress their best.
Girls do their hair, nails, tan—everything to look and feel their best.
Both people put effort into themselves to show up well for the other person.

Then, after time, the effort fades. They stop improving. They get comfortable, stop investing in themselves, and suddenly, they’re just watching movies in sweats every night. The energy dies.

The same happens in business and life.

When you stop growing, you stop contributing at a high level. And when everyone stops growing, everything stagnates.