Strategy Isn’t Enough: Disruption Hinges on Commitment

I recently sat down with the CEO of a company grappling with disruption on every front. The economy was volatile, technology was advancing at breakneck speed, the competitive landscape was shifting, and customer expectations were changing daily. His team had set bold goals, reorganized workflows, and changed their go-to-market approach to stay relevant.

But the CEO wasn’t just focused on strategy—he was worried about commitment. “These changes are the right ones,” he said. “But sticking with them is going to take real grit. It’s one thing to agree to a plan on paper; it’s another to change behavior, take risks, and have hard conversations. My biggest fear? When things get hard, people will want to return to what’s comfortable.”

His concern struck a chord with me because I’ve seen this play out many times. One of my first lessons on the power of commitment came more than 30 years ago, during Ranger School. Back then, I was a young soldier, just 23 years old, and I had no idea how often this lesson would be reinforced throughout my career and life.

A Postcard That Changed Everything

I’ve shared in a past article that at 23, I reported for U.S. Army Ranger School with two friends. My wife dropped us off before dawn, kissed me goodbye, and rubbed my shaved head for luck. By mid-morning, I was the only one left. The first challenge, the physical fitness test, had already eliminated my buddies and plenty of others.

Ranger Instructors are notoriously strict, especially when it comes to pushups. Even if candidates do 20 perfect pushups, they might only count a handful. At that rate, it doesn’t take long to drain your energy. This got my buddies—they ran out of steam before hitting the required number. If you fall short, you’re done, no exceptions.

Ranger School is as tough as they say. You carry enormous amounts of gear, survive on one meal a day, and get only a few hours of sleep each night. Leadership is constantly assessed, and every decision feels heavier than it should because of the exhaustion.

By Phase 2, I was questioning whether I could make it. Then I got a postcard. On the front was a Mary Cassatt painting of a mother and child. On the back, my wife had written: “You’re going to be a dad.”

I stared at those words over and over, letting them sink in. In that moment, I promised myself two things: I would finish Ranger School as quickly as possible, and I would stay in one piece.

A Toothache, a Decision, and a Lesson

But promises are easier to make than to keep. By the Mountain phase, my body was breaking down. A toothache turned into excruciating pain. I went to the dentist, hoping for relief, but his solution was drastic: pull the tooth.

I hesitated. The idea of losing my tooth felt unnecessary—something I could endure for a few more weeks. So I refused and went back to training.

That stubbornness worked for a while, but by the Swamp phase, the pain became unbearable. They pulled me out and sent me to another dentist. By sheer luck, someone had missed their appointment, and I was thrown into the chair for an emergency root canal. Less than two hours later, I was back in the swamp, wading through mud with a patched-up tooth and a pounding jaw.

A week later, I finished Ranger School—30 pounds lighter, exhausted, and technically still in one piece (though I kept the extracted tooth in a ziplock bag as a memento).

What I Learned About Commitment

Ranger School taught me powerful lessons about commitment that I’ve seen reinforced time and time again over the past three decades—in my own life, in my work, and in the countless stories I’ve heard from leaders navigating their own challenges. Here’s what those lessons are:

1. Commitment Turns Ideas into Action

Bold goals and strategies mean nothing without the grit to follow through.

2. Commitment Requires Sacrifice

Commitment isn't easy, whether it’s physical pain, uncomfortable change, or tough conversations. It asks you to endure when quitting seems like the better option.

3. Commitment Fuels Resilience

That postcard gave me a reason bigger than myself. Purpose drives perseverance, even when the path is difficult.

Your Call to Action

Disruption is hard. The temptation to retreat to what’s familiar is real. But progress comes from commitment. So, what will you commit to? A bold goal that scares you? A person who inspires you? A purpose that lights your fire?

If you’re looking to build disruption capabilities and commitment in your team or organization, I can help. For 2 ½ years, I led The Disruption Project at Vanderbilt University , studying how leaders around the world use disruption to achieve incredible results—in themselves, their relationships, teams, organizations, industries, communities, and their personal lives.

I’ve developed a keynote presentation that’s both inspiring and practical. Audiences and organizations immediately see the value and start implementing principles of discernment, behaviors, and results. To learn more or get your event on my schedule, contact my agents, Michele Lucia or Canesha Appleton .

Disruption starts with commitment.

Make it a great day!

Patrick

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