We all reach moments when we need to decide how fully we’re showing up — for our work, our teams, and our relationships.
In this short video, I share why the difference between being 99% committed and 100% committed isn’t 1%. It’s exponential.
It’s a message I’ve shared in my Exponential Commitment keynote, and recently, something happened that reminded me just how true it really is.
A Message That Hit Home
After one of my recent keynotes, an audience member texted me something that stopped me in my tracks.
He wrote:
“Manley, after hearing you this morning, I went straight to my room, called my wife, and told her I realized I’ve been 99% committed to our family — and I’m ready to go 100% all in.”
That message hit me deeply because that morning’s keynote was about commitment — specifically, how the difference between 99% and 100% commitment isn’t 1%.
It’s exponential.
When you go all in — truly all in — everything changes.
We’re One Human Being
Most of the time, I talk about commitment in the context of work — being fully engaged in your mission, your team, and your goals.
But here’s the truth: we’re not separate people at work and at home.
When work is hard, it affects life at home.
When home is hard, it affects life at work.
We’re one human being — and the energy, attention, and commitment we bring to one area inevitably spill over into the other.
My Own Wake-Up Call
Last summer, I had to take my own medicine.
My wife, Emily, and I have been together for over 32 years. We have a deep love for each other, raised two incredible kids, and shared countless adventures. But we hit a stretch where we were frustrated — irritated — just not enjoying each other the way we used to.
We’d fallen into old narratives, dug into our positions, and kept having the same arguments on repeat. Sound familiar?
Eventually, we said, enough.
We hired a couples therapist and worked with her for about two and a half months.
It was messy. It was uncomfortable. And it was absolutely worth it.
That experience — choosing to go “all in” on our relationship — was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
The Ripple Effect
What’s wild is what happened next.
After working through that season and recommitting to our relationship, my business took off.
This year has been my best year ever — by far.
And it reminded me of something profound: sometimes we push so hard for growth in one area — our careers, our business, our performance — but the breakthrough we’re chasing might actually come from growth in another area.
For me, that meant stepping back and strengthening the most important relationship in my life. And that renewed commitment elevated everything else.
Your Turn
So here’s my question for you:
What do you need to exponentially commit to right now?
Maybe it’s a relationship.
Maybe it’s your health.
Maybe it’s something you used to be all in on — but over time, your commitment has slipped.
You know the difference. When you’re not fully committed, it’s easy to hesitate, delay, or make excuses. But when you’re 100% in, you move with clarity, conviction, and power.
And the results? They’re exponential.
Final Thought
I hope this encourages you to look closely at the areas of your life that matter most — and recommit to them fully.
When you elevate your commitment in one area, it ripples outward changing the way you show up everywhere.
That’s the Exponential power of going all in.
