Be the Commitment: How To Go Beyond Resolutions And Goals
The Commitment System: One Strategy (3 Commitments, 3 Rules, 3 Minutes) Plus Two Integrative Tactics (5E's and AMI)
Executive Summary: What if achieving your goals isn't about willpower, fleeting New Year's Resolutions, relying on external motivation, or crafting hopeful intentions? What if you could transform and transcend who you are through small, deliberate actions?
Three Commitments, Three Rules, Three Minutes: The 3C3R3M system—Three Commitments, Three Rules, Three Minutes—creates success by focusing on identity-based commitments, structured strategies, and actionable tactics like the 5E's (Easily, Effortlessly, Efficiently, Effectively, Enjoyably) and AMI (Achieve, Master, Improve).
Invest In Yourself: By investing in yourself for just three minutes a day, you build habits that align your actions with your deepest values, creating sustainable change and exponential growth. This is more than a framework—it's an evidence-based mental model for becoming the best version of yourself.
This Is Your Achievement Blueprint: Let's dive in to discover how simplicity, focus, clarity, and commitment can unlock your full potential.
Begin now—commit to yourself.
Important Things First: People may often believe that thinking about or 'only' writing a goal or New Year's Resolution will magically lead to its automatic fulfillment.
Achievement Doesn't Magically Happen That Way: While setting a goal can be an important first step, it is not the last step. In fact, a goal might not be what you require.
It Takes Strategies And Tactics To Make Magic Happen: This essay will introduce a simple, powerful strategy and two supporting tactics to achieve your desired outcomes.
First, What Is The Difference Between A Strategy (Thinking About Doing It) And A Tactic (Doing It)? A strategy is your overall plan. It's the 'what' and 'why.' A tactic is the specific action or the 'how.' You need both parts to be successful.
For example, if your strategy is to get fit to lower your blood pressure (you have a what and a why), your tactics might include going to the gym three times a week, meal prepping, and removing sugary snacks (the how).
Achieve, Master, Improve
The Strategy—3 Commitments, 3 Rules, 3 Minutes (3C3R3M): The strategy is straightforward. Select three commitments and support each one with two tactics that serve as your journey's guard rails: "5E's" (Easily, Effortlessly, Efficiently, Effectively, Enjoyably) and "AMI" (Achieve, Master, Improve).
All That—In Three Minutes? Yep! Focus breeds mastery, and simplicity fosters consistency and clarity.
Really—All In Just Three Minutes Per Day? Yep! This evidence-based strategy uses the Structure - Process - Outcome model.
Return On Thought: You will invest a brief amount of time to design your 3C3R3M model. This one-time setup will yield exponential returns, helping you achieve your desired outcomes with clarity and consistency.
Amplifying Commitment: I listen to Brain.fm when I write my commitments each day. Read more about why I use Brain.fm to power my creativity or go directly to the Brain.fm site.
Let's Begin: Be The Commitment
Ask Yourself—What If? What if the secret to your success is not in goals but in creating systems you make and the person you become?
Ask Yourself—What If? What if you used language as a tool instead of just a description?
Ask Yourself—What If? What if you could implement evidence-based tactics to achieve your desired outcomes more consistently and effectively?
Questions Before Answers
Who: Who is your future self, and what proactive actions can you take today to become that person?
What: What makes focusing on just three commitments lead to greater effectiveness than chasing many?
When: When is the best time to transform your commitments into actions?
Where: Where do your environment, timing, and mindset intersect to support your growth?
Why: Why does aligning your identity with your actions yield consistent progress?
How: How can investing three minutes daily result in significant, meaningful improvement?
"If you have more than three priorities [read: commitments], you don't have any." --Jim Collins
The Journey Of Three—Less Before More: We live in a world obsessed with doing more: more goals, more tasks, more productivity hacks. But what if genuine success was about doing less with greater focus and depth?
More Than Three Is A Crowd: The 3C3R3M approach recognizes that our cognitive capacity has limits. Three isn't just an arbitrary number; it represents the ideal balance point where commitments are manageable, meaningful, and memorable.
Good Things Come In Threes: Psychologically, the human brain is wired to find comfort in triads. Think about adages like "third time's the charm" or "location, location, location." That three-fold repetition helps us recognize and remember what matters most.
How Does The Commitment Catalyst Use Compensatory Control? Compensatory control is a psychological mechanism that helps us create order and stability to reduce uncertainty.
Imagine compensatory control as horse blinders, which we create ourselves to direct our focus toward desired outcomes while minimizing distractions.
The 3C3R3M helps us ignore distractions and focus on what's most important. We assert power over the things we can influence to compensate for or prevent any unpredictability around us.
The Power of Language: Why Commitments Beat Goals
Language—Words Provide Your Power To Transcend: Assume you observe five people sitting around a table discussing their New Year's Resolution to stop smoking, and you overhear:
Smoker 1: "I wish I could quit smoking."
Smoker 2: "I want to quit smoking."
Smoker 3: "I will try to quit smoking."
Smoker 4: "My resolution is to quit smoking."
Smoker 5: "I am a person who is now smoke-free. I am doing this for myself and my family."
Predict Success: Which person is most likely to be successful? Why?
Language—Purpose: Purpose is the reason you endure, persist, and strive. Purpose is a constant and compelling belief that you must achieve.
Purpose is everything, but not everything is purpose.
The remaining options are for when something is not purpose, but a desired outcome.
Language—Besides Purpose: Let's consider these goal-related words: commitment, goal, resolution, intention, hope, try, and wish.
Commitment: You continually and consistently commit, regardless of intervening factors. A commitment is intrinsic; it is identity-based. You live by it, and it becomes an intrinsic system guiding you toward your outcome.
Goal: A goal is a desired, singular event. It's something to achieve. It awaits you, like a destination when you drive, and when you arrive, you've accomplished your goal. A goal is often extrinsic, such as being the salesperson of the month.
Resolution: A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. Think of New Year's Resolutions. (LINK)
Intention: You often intend to carry out an intention, but intention doesn't necessarily mean your desire will be achieved.
Hope: Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. You hope it will be sunny and warm on your wedding day, or you hope your relatives won't get into a screaming match over politics at Thanksgiving dinner.
Try: To try is to make an attempt or effort to achieve something, but again, to try doesn't mean that you will achieve your desires. Do or do not...
Wish: A wish is a desire for something to happen with little effort on your part. When you wish upon a star...
So... Why Commitment? They're all just words, right? So, what's the difference between someone with a goal and someone who embodies a commitment?
Gooooooooaaaaaallll! At first, a goal sounds impressive. A goal focuses on a destination and a definitive outcome, but sometimes it is just noise.
I Am The Commitment: A commitment first recognizes and then creates the path to your destination. Focusing on commitments combines your actions, beliefs, values, and identity, making staying consistent and motivated over the long term easier.
What Are The Elements Of the 3 Commitments, 3 Rules, 3 Minutes System?
Simple As 1, 2, 3: Here are the 3C3R3M steps.
Select three commitments you want to achieve.
Review our comprehensive list of The Before Rules and identify which three of the Before Rules you will apply to each commitment.
Set aside just three minutes every day for each commitment. That is less than 10 minutes of total investment into you and your future.
"You can do anything, but not everything." --David Allen
What Is Miller's Law? Miller's Law, proposed by cognitive psychologist George A. Miller, suggests that the average number of objects an individual can hold in working memory is about seven, plus or minus two (7 +/- 2). He also proposed chunking as a tool for remembering more extensive series.
Read More About Miller's Law Here
What Is The Best Known Example Of Miller's Law? Phone numbers are a well-known example of Miller's Law, demonstrating how grouping information into manageable chunks (111-222-3333) makes remembering easier.
How Does Miller's Law Apply To The Concept Of 3C3R3M? Miller's Law applies in two ways:
First, three is even an easier number to attain than five (the lowest number in 7 +/- 2).
Second, when you add the numbers in 3C3R3M, you get nine (the highest number in 7 +/- 2).
Three Commitments
First, Let's Begin With Commitments: How do you identify and select your commitments?
Importance—Assess Your Core Values And Beliefs: Reflect on your core values. What matters most to you in your life right now? Identifying your values will help you align your commitments with what genuinely resonates with you and keeps you motivated.
Evaluate The Impact: Consider the impact of each potential commitment. Ask yourself, "If I fully commit to this, how will it affect my life, both positively and negatively?" Select commitments that will make the most meaningful net positive difference.
Create Identity Alignment: Decide upon commitments that align with the person you want to become. Instead of setting goals based on outcomes, consider how your commitment will reinforce your identity.
For instance, instead of setting a goal to "save more money," commit to "become someone who uses financial resources wisely, focuses upon using money as an asset and a tool, not an expense, and builds a secure future for my loved ones."
Be The Commitment: To truly change, you must be the commitment. It's not enough to want or wish, nor hope or dream. Embody your commitment until it becomes part of who you are.
Be The Commitment - Example: Instead of simply watching a symphony, or playing an instrument, or even conducting — be everything at once: the musician, the conductor, the audience, and most of all, the music itself. Be the entire experience in harmony. Be the music.
Be the commitment.
"Focus is about saying 'no' to a hundred good ideas so you can say 'yes' to one great idea." --Jim Collins
The Baskin Robbins Dilemma—Three Scooper? With 31 flavors to choose from, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Sometimes, you must let go of many wonderful possibilities to embrace the best. Prioritizing means making difficult, intentional decisions, and focusing on just three commitments helps ensure that your energy and resources are directed where they matter most.
Besides, it's hard to stack over three scoops on a cone (even if we all want to).
The Commitment Countdown: If you have a list of, say, ten commitments that you can't decide between, try this method:
Remove Three: Review your list, remove three items, and elevate one commitment to the top of your list. You now have seven options.
Remove Three Again: Once more, review the list, remove three items, and elevate one commitment to the top of your list.
Remove One: You now have four items, two of which are commitments and two possible commitments. Remove one possible commitment, and you have your three commitments.
Three Rules
Second, Decide On Your Rules: For each commitment, select three Before Rules to guide it. These will be your tactics to support your strategy.
Just What Are The Before Rules? The Before Rules provide a simple, robust, strategic three-word framework for achievement. The Before Rules are the bridge you construct that connects two places: a beginning and a destination. Think of the Before Rules as the building blocks for the bridge you're going to construct.
Are The Before Rules A Cheat Code? Sorta' — but without the cheating part.
Here Before There: Each Before Rule always consists of three words. The first word recognizes where you are now. The second word is always "before," symbolizing transformation. The third word represents your desired outcome.
Simple Rules—Just Three Words: Think of these illustrative phrases like:
Deposit Before Withdrawal
Obstacle Before Opportunity
System Before Outcome
Thoughts Before Things
Important Before Urgent
Here Before There
You Rule! Unlike extrinsically imposed laws, which apply to everyone (think speed limits, taxes, and building codes), the Before Rules are intrinsic, personal commitments you create for yourself, structured to guide you to success.
You craft your Before Rules for your specific needs.
Click here to see the complete Before Rules list. On this page, I elaborate on each Before Rule and how to select the three best for your desired outcomes.
Three Minutes
"If you don't execute a good idea, it dies." --Roger von Oech
Third, Decide On A Time, A Place, And A Mindset Every Day: Transformation and change don't just happen. Achievement must first be designed and then executed consistently.
"You do not rise to the level of your goals [read: commitments]; you fall to the level of your systems." --James Clear
Repetition Before Mastery: Consistency is essential to progress. Commit daily to invest three minutes into yourself.
How? Let's break down the components of '3 minutes.'
The Three Locations: Just like in real estate, the adage, location, location, location also applies to your strategy.
Location matters, not just in physical space, but in the mental and emotional space you create. Where you choose to work on yourself—the environment, the routine, the headspace—makes all the difference.
Location #1—Place: Decide where you will invest in yourself for three minutes. If you can associate and anchor yourself to a specific location (like a certain desk or chair), you will associate the singular activity of 3C3R3M.
Helpful Examples: Assume you have a favorite chair in your living room. When you are ready for 3C3R3M, turn your chair to make it unique. For example, you could face it towards a picture window to see nature, or towards a corner to eliminate potential distractions.
When you are finished, move the chair back to its normal position. This way, your location is unique only when you write for three minutes.
Location #2—Time: Unsurprisingly, consistency is easier when it's scheduled... consistently.
For some people, first thing in the morning may be ideal. If you're a night owl, invest your time before bed to align with your natural rhythms.
For others, your three minutes may occur when you have a convenient time, such as taking mass transportation to/from work or during your lunch break. The most important part is that you take the time to do it.
Location #3—Mindset: Clear your mind before you start. Writing first thing in the morning is often the easiest for many, but not everyone.
Be The Breath: Regardless of when you write, begin with 30 seconds or more of deep breathing. When you breathe deeply, you are no longer the passenger nor are you the driver; you become the breath. This clears your mind. So you can now… Be the commitment.
I use a simple system called CARCAR. Read more on breathing techniques here. For most people, you can effectively achieve truly deep relaxation and focus within a few weeks.
Sounds Or Silence? An additional mindset can be music or complete silence. I use one of two options. I have a specific music playlist of two favorite songs (Miles Davis, if you must know) that I only listen to when I am writing. I do not want those two songs associated with anything other than my three minutes of 3C3R3M.
Here is an example of how music can focus or distract people:
My second option is to use a specific evidence-based auditory app, and I have one specific soundtrack I play only when I write for three minutes. I use this daily when I exercise. Learn more about BrainFM here.
Some people may decide to play a motivational song, like the Theme from Rocky.
What's In Your Playlist? The songs (or lack thereof) you choose do not matter as long as they help you get into the right mindset.
Alright, Alright, Alright: That covers the right place, the right time, and the right mindset that allows you to flourish.
We are ready for the next step.
Why To Write: Be The Commitment
Handwriting—Finally, Something That Is Magical: The hand connects the mental and the physical. Writing things by hand creates a direct connection to your commitments. Evidence-based studies have shown that writing things by hand activates brain regions involved in memory and emotion. There's a reason why people swear by handwritten letters—the commitment to the act creates a depth of meaning that typing can never match. Write down your commitments and feel the pen on paper. This will help to solidify your commitment.
Handwriting Or Resolutions—Your Decision: Sure, you can 'read' or 'think' about your New Year's Resolutions; that's what 'everybody' else does and look at what they achieve.
What To Write—Putting It All Together
Handwriting Is More Than A Commitment - It's Your Superpower: Writing commits you to achieving your desired outcomes.
Creating Commitment Statements: Write your commitments on physical Commitment Statements. These cards become more than simple reminders—they are visual anchors that transform wants into wills and ideas into actions.
Thoughts Before Things: The principles of the two tactics (5E's and AMI) are straightforward: think deeply, then write with commitment. This process is the connection between what you envision and what you achieve.
Writing your thoughts is more than documentation—it's creation.
Apply The First Tactic—The 5E's (Easily, Effortlessly, Efficiently, Effectively, and Enjoyably): Once you've identified your commitments, the next step is to write them down. I use loose 5x8 notecards, but you can use whatever you'd like.
I place the notecards in a simple box with dividers.
I keep my current 3 Commitments at the front of the box.
Create Your Framework: At the top of each card, write your commitment along with today’s date. Under your commitment, write the following, one per line, leaving space to reflect.
Past, Present, Future (From Your Future Self): After each of the 5E's, write what you've done (past), what you're doing (present), or what you've already achieved (future), imagining your future self reflecting on the journey. The past, present, or future mental shift helps you visualize your commitment process.
By incorporating your plan, vision, and action as a written narrative, you create clarity and achieve your commitment.
Why 'Enjoyably?' It Seems Out Of Place: Enjoyment, much like curiosity, is not sustainable without the elements of challenge, progress, and pleasure. The more enjoyable the process, the less it depends on sheer discipline to be maintained. Enjoyment transforms resistance into momentum. It's not about making difficult tasks easy; it's about finding joy in the journey itself.
For example, for Enjoyably, you might write:
Enjoyably (Past): "Yesterday, I continued to listen to a great audiobook: Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation by Ayelet Fishbach. It made me think differently."
Enjoyably (Present): "I am enjoying my favorite coffee as I write this."
Enjoyably (Future And Future Self): "Looking back, my morning walks with my wife became cherished moments for us both."
Apply The Second Tactic—AMI: Achieve, Master, and Improve offers a simple, yet profound way to acknowledge and connect your past, present, and future.
It's a framework that reveals both your journey and your guardrails. As with the 5E's above, vary the past, present, and future perspectives:
Achieve (Past): Look back at what you've accomplished—big or small. These milestones, even the imperfect ones, are proof of your capability. They show that progress is possible and give you a solid foundation to build on. Every achievement, even those that felt incomplete, has moved you forward.
Improve (Present): Focus on how you are investing in yourself now. Improvement happens in the present—the “doing” phase where action turns intention into reality. Whether you’re refining a skill, developing a habit, or adjusting your approach, this stage is where your commitment continues to refine.
Mastery (Future / Future Self): Picture both the person you're becoming and the person you have become via your future self. Mastery isn't about reaching perfection; it's about fully integrating your actions, habits, beliefs, and values into your identity. It's when what once felt like effort becomes second nature, and you see yourself embodying the traits and skills you've been working toward.
Achieve, Master, Improve,
Do Some Days Have The Same Entries? Yes. Progress and consistency are deliberate processes. By employing past, present, and future, you can review how far you have come, where you are, and where you are going.
This is what my Commitment Statement template looks like:
Below is my written Commitment Statement. The "O" in front of the commitment and each of the Before Rules is where I place a simple * to acknowledge my investment.
Now, you are ready to make your investment into the 3C3R3M strategy.
It will take about one minute per commitment for each of your commitments, adding up to three minutes per day.
"That which is measured is performed." --Business Adage
Bonus—Beyond Metrics: Metrics is more than just recording actions; it is recording the right actions.
Want To Make Metrics Even Move Effective? Make The Reward The Reward: An additional simple way to keep you on track and enhance your compliance follows.
Select a convenient, dedicated location for a physical calendar (not your smartphone). Typical options can include your fridge or bathroom mirror.
Simply draw a circle on the calendar every morning, not in advance. Then, after you complete your 3C3R3M investment, place a "+" or a "*" sign over the circle, whichever is more meaningful for you.
Commitment Calendar
You have invested in yourself today.
Read Our Article "Metrics Improvement: That Which Is Recorded Is Performed"
When You Commit, You Create The Magic: Achieving meaningful outcomes with the Three Commitments, Three Rules, Three Minutes framework doesn't rely on illusion or mystical phrases. Real transformation is about practical, consistent action—working with what you can control, and building structure and systems that deliver results over time. It's mastery employing strategy and tactics, combined with intention, dedication, and deliberate focus.
By aligning the 5E's and AMI with your past, present, and future (and future self), you gain a clear perspective on your progress. Your achievements verify your capabilities, your improvements keep you engaged, and your vision of mastery pulls you forward toward who you want to be.
The Commitment Of Commitment—Be The Commitment: When you commit, you are not just setting a goal; you are creating a system to live and breathe that commitment as an integral part of your identity.
It's A Commitment System: This isn't just about checking boxes—it's about recognizing the story you're writing and owning every chapter.
Be The Commitment.
I Am The Commitment.
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Your Thoughts May Vary
Thought Improvement welcomes your constructive comments and invites you to share your perspectives and experiences. Together, we can all refine our understanding and application of these concepts.
Click here for our Disclaimers, Disclosures, Disavowals, And Declarations (aka - I told you so).