In my last blog, I mentioned wanting to go back a few posts to finish a story—one that ties into commitments, responsibilities, and just how important they can be. I’ll be honest: commitment has never been one of my strongest traits. But when I do commit, I’m in it for the long haul. If I’ve given my word—whether through a contract, a handshake, or simple agreement—I’ll carry those responsibilities through to the very end. When I commit… I commit.
I never want to let anyone down.
Before I share the story I had in mind, I want to go back even further.
Years ago, while working at Sandy Lane Resort in Barbados during the Festive holidays, I met a lovely family. The father had a great sense of humor, and their nine-year-old son was helpful, friendly, and a joy in the programs. They were from another country, living in England, and asked me to come spend four weeks that summer as their son’s nanny. I was in my late twenties, eager to travel and work, and honestly thought, Wow, this might be the best gig ever. I’d play tennis with the son daily, swim whenever he wanted, and spend the summer abroad. The parents would be there the first and last week and travel during the two in the middle.
Long story short—it turned into one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. The son was extremely spoiled, tennis was miserable unless he was winning, and swimming became a chore. The cook even warned me that if I thought I’d ever “win” an argument or activity…I wouldn’t. And this was before FaceTime or WhatsApp to be able to speak with friends or family to keep me sane.
After the first week, I was ready to leave. But I had made a commitment. So even after being spit on, I stayed for the remaining couple of weeks. There’s a lot more to that story, but what you need to know is this: I survived, and I learned. In hindsight, it was one of my best learning experiences.
When I look up the definition of commitment, one part resonates with that story: a promise or firm decision to do something in the future, often involving dedicating time, energy, or resources to a particular goal or cause. And once I made that promise, it became my responsibility to ensure their son got the care, safety, and fun they expected. Responsibility, after all, is being accountable for something within your control or management.
Which brings me back to the story I meant to tell at the end of my last blog.
In 1996, at a REC Net conference, I met and interviewed with a special events and teambuilding company based in Orlando. I thought it would be the perfect transition from ship life to land—take two. I knew the hours would be odd and weekends busy, but the idea of creating dynamic events sounded exciting. So, the day after Thanksgiving, I packed up my car and headed to Florida.
My colleagues were incredible—creative, talented, and inspiring. I learned so much, from running teambuilding programs to brainstorming unique holiday events. There were highlights: river rafting down the Colorado River after an event, an unforgettable sunset in Key Largo, and joining a flag football and volleyball group that brought our team even closer.
But Orlando, as wonderful as it is, wasn’t home for me. I struggled to meet people outside work, and something just didn’t feel right. I also overheard a few conversations about selling one thing and cutting corners somewhere else, and it didn’t sit well. Still, I was committed to doing my best.
By April, I had been given a major July event: a marathon-style scavenger hunt/bake-off inside a Walt Disney World park. There were countless walkthroughs and hours of prep to make it amazing.
Around that time, a friend working onboard a ship mentioned taking a cruise, and I realized how much I missed some of my ship-life friends—and Bermuda, one of my favorite places on earth. I wasn’t itching to return to ship life permanently, but I needed a little social fix. I had a huge discount, so I booked a week-long cruise and headed to NYC to get onboard.
Everything with my event was on track, so I felt comfortable stepping away for the week.
Now, I’ll preface this by saying I was still pretty young—but I knew exactly what I needed to do to finish strong.
On the cruise, I reunited with friends in Bermuda who begged me to stay for the weekend, something I’d never been able to do. I even asked the staff captain if I could stay behind and rejoin the ship the following Thursday, promising to stay in a friend’s cabin rather than taking up a passenger cabin. He agreed.
Then came the hard part.
From Bermuda, I called my mom. I told her I needed to leave Orlando—I hadn’t been happy for a while—and asked if she would fly down, help me pack a U-Haul, and drive back home. She said yes. My next call would be to the company.
I still don’t know how I pulled it off, but I had a plan. I called my employer and told them I was staying another week in Bermuda and that when I returned, I’d be giving my two weeks’ notice. I also assured them I was fully committed to making the July event a success. I knew I wouldn’t be paid for that extra week, and I knew I’d have a lot of catching up to do—but that was my responsibility.
When I returned, I delivered exactly what I promised. The event was a huge success, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I knew I would miss most of my colleagues—they had taught me so much—and I’m grateful we’ve stayed in touch. Even during my exit interview, they said they were sad to see me go and impressed that I didn’t just walk away, which would’ve been the easy thing to do. But I never would have done that.
Again, it was another learning experience—not my favorite, but valuable. Everything I learned there has helped strengthen my professional skills. Most importantly, it reinforced my belief in staying committed and responsible. Our industry may be global, but over time it becomes very small. When a future employer asks, “If I call your last workplace, what three words would they use to describe you?”—your answer depends on how you leave.
Whether you’re ending a contract, moving on to something new, or simply turning the page, always leave on a high note. Do the right thing. Follow through. Give everything your best.
You’ll walk away proud—and the company will be grateful for the way you finished your chapter.
Favorite Quote: “Stay committed in your decisions but stay flexible in your approach.” -Tony Robbins
Next Up: Goals