Only One Kind of Commitment

Half-hearted efforts usually yield half-hearted results. The statement "There is only one kind of commitment … Total!" highlights the idea that true commitment requires full dedication and wholehearted involvement. Early in my career, I heard a silly (but truthful) real-life example of commitment. My trainer referenced a ham & egg breakfast. He stated that in a ham & egg breakfast, the hen is involved, but the pig is fully committed.

This is a clever metaphor illustrating the difference between involvement and full commitment. In this context, the hen provides eggs, contributing to the breakfast without much personal sacrifice. The pig, however, must give its life to provide the ham, symbolizing a total, irreversible commitment.

This analogy is often used to highlight the difference between merely participating in something versus being fully invested. The hen’s involvement represents a more detached or surface-level contribution—valuable but not all-encompassing. The pig, on the other hand, is symbolic of total sacrifice, representing someone who is "all in," giving everything they have without turning back.

One of the major causes of “lack of success” is “lack of commitment”. If your career is not going where you want it to go … then take a step back and examine, assess, and analyze your commitment level. In life, work, or relationships, many people are like the hen—participating, and contributing, but not deeply invested. True success and meaningful outcomes, however, come from being like the pig, fully committed to the point of sacrifice. It’s the difference between doing something because you have to and doing something because you’re deeply dedicated to it.

This expression also raises questions about the level of commitment required in different situations. Are we willing to go beyond mere involvement and fully commit to things that matter? It reminds us that true success often requires deep dedication, just like the pig's ultimate contribution. When we commit to something, we are expected to invest time, energy, and effort. Only by committing fully—mind, body, and soul—can we truly succeed and achieve meaningful outcomes.

Total commitment means giving up excuses, embracing challenges, and continuing even when it gets tough. It’s not about being perfect but about being relentless in your pursuit. Those who reach the highest levels of achievement, whether athletes, entrepreneurs, or artists, demonstrate total commitment by making sacrifices, pushing through difficulties, and staying focused on their objectives.

Are you truly committed? Do your actions match your intentions? Total commitment requires discipline and the ability to prioritize, but it also brings the satisfaction of knowing you’ve given your best effort. It’s about being all in, regardless of obstacles. When you commit fully, you not only increase your likelihood of success, but you also live with fewer regrets, knowing you gave everything you had to what mattered most.