What a difference a little skin in the game makes!

Thomas Paine said it more eloquently in The American Crisis Number One when he said, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.”

How right he was!

You don’t have to be very old to learn the truth of Paine’s statement. We were at lunch one day and Elizabeth (then 5) noticed someone making balloon animals for the kids.

“I want a balloon” she shrieked. Her eyes glazed over with the anticipation of obtaining a quick prize.

Seeing an opportunity to teach her something of far greater value and longevity for less of an investment, I asked her a question. “Do you realize that even though the balloon is free, the artist expects you to give him at least two dollars as a tip? That is two weeks of your allowance. Are you willing to give up two weeks allowance for a balloon?”

I waited while I could see the wheels turning in her mind. After a few moments she said, “No, I can live without the balloon.” Naturally, I was pleased that she came to the desired conclusion on her own.

A few minutes later, an additional bonus was revealed. Two other children walked to the area where the balloons were being made. Shortly, they walked back to their table with a balloon while Elizabeth observed their actions. I waited to see her reaction.

Without hesitation she invoked, “Daddy, those kids wasted their money.” Needless, to say I was relieved at her ability to connect the premise that your wants may change if you have to make an investment to receive the desired item.

In business, I see similar examples of behavior differentiated by whether one has some skin in the game.

People are quick to request items to help them succeed in their jobs. If they are asked what they will deliver to the business if they are granted their request, they often develop what a friend of mine calls “jelly knees.” They are not interested in having to commit to anything, but act as if they are asking Santa Claus for a present.

Upon rejection of their request, the business is often blamed for not supplying what the individual needs to be successful.

Paine’s efforts during the Revolutionary War made a significant impact on its outcome because he communicated in plain language to the regular American the importance of each individual’s contributions to the effort to establish an independent country

His efforts let everyone know what the stakes were to each individual, what would happen if the war was won, and more importantly what would happen if the war were lost. People realized that whether they liked it or not, their lives were going to be changed by the outcome of the war. They could decide whether to commit to support the war effort and try to influence the outcome, or to set back and let others dictate their future.

In that instance many people responded to his request and joined the American cause and you know from history that the United States of America was born.

Today, our lives are composed of multiple facets. Occasionally, we take our freedom, way of life, business life, family life and other areas for granted. There are those in the world who would like to negatively impact our lives for their own benefit.

Sometimes we are involved, but not committed to one or more aspects of our lives. As the old story goes, the difference between involvement and commitment is the difference between the chicken and the hog. The chicken is involved in making the egg, but the hog is committed in making the bacon.

Regardless of our individual situation, when we have a stake, or realize that we should have a stake, in the subject at hand, we are far more likely to be committed to success than when we are merely involved.

© 2006 Richard V. Battle