You might have heard people say “I’ll try” or “Let’s see how it goes.” These phrases leave room for doubt and an exit.
As a result, when something feels difficult, uncertain, or uncomfortable, the mind naturally looks for a way out. Without a clear decision, stopping looks like the only way out. This is where a simple shift matters.
Moving from “I’ll try” to “I will” removes that exit. It changes how you approach challenges, how you respond to setbacks, and how long you stay in the process.
If you want to build the same kind of mindset, keep reading, as we’ll be discussing why commitment matters.
Key Takeaways
- “I’ll Try” Creates an Exit: Leaving room for doubt makes it easier to stop when things get hard. Clear decisions remove that escape.
- Commitment Changes Behavior: When you decide fully, you stop hesitating and start focusing on how to make things work.
- Difficulty Is Part of the Process: Challenges and stress are normal. Progress comes from continuing, not stepping back.
- Consistent Action Drives Results: Whether building, learning, or chasing goals, steady effort over time is what leads to real outcomes.
The Problem with “I’ll Try”
“I’ll try” sounds harmless, but it weakens commitment from the start. It leaves room for hesitation and creates an easy exit when things become uncomfortable. The moment effort meets resistance, that phrase gives you a way to step back.
This is why many pilots stay stuck in cycles of starting and stopping. They begin with good intentions, but without a clear decision, consistency breaks down as soon as progress slows down.
The best way to move forward in this scenario is to write down your goals, so you are compelled to follow through with the habits. In fact, studies have shown 2x to 3x higher completion rates by doing so.
When you keep saying “I’ll try,” it keeps the outcome optional. However, you can change everything just by shifting your mindset to “I will”. It removes the exit and shifts the focus from effort to completion.
Why Total Commitment Changes Everything
Total commitment changes how you act because it removes hesitation. When a decision is fully made, the mind stops looking for alternatives. Energy shifts from “Should I do this?” to “How do I make this work?”
That shift is small, but it changes everything. Actions become more direct, and effort becomes consistent because there is no second option in the background.
Once something is decided, you stop negotiating with yourself. You do not wait for the right mood or the perfect timing; you start working with what you have, even when things feel slow or uncertain.
That clarity increases focus.
Rather than spreading your attention across multiple options, you concentrate on one path. Fewer distractions, fewer doubts, and fewer restarts. This makes progress easier to maintain because your effort is not being reset again and again.
Simply put, you tell yourself: “I’ll do it or die.”
The Mountain Analogy Explained
The mountain represents any goal that feels difficult, uncertain, or far away. Most people approach it carefully. They start climbing, test how it feels, and keep looking back for an easier way down.
When retreat is always an option, effort becomes conditional. You move forward only when it feels manageable. However, once you decide, there is no turning back; your focus shifts completely.
You stop measuring how hard it feels and start figuring out how to keep moving. The energy that would have gone into hesitation now goes into solving problems. This matters because difficulty is part of the process.
One of the mountains that people take a step back from is stress. Research shows that about 75% of people experience moderate to high stress levels, often when facing challenges or uncertainty.
Applying the “I Will” Mindset in Real Life
The “I will” mindset only works when it shows up in daily actions. It is not about removing hesitation and following through when things feel slow or uncertain.
Here is how it applies in real situations.
1. Building Something Beyond Aviation
Starting something outside aviation begins with uncertainty. You are entering a space where results are not immediate, and the path is not always clear. This is where most people fall back to “I’ll try.”
The shift to “I will” changes how you approach it. Instead of testing something casually, you commit to building it step by step.
If you do not, you’ll probably be one of the 90% of startups that fail because they stop too early or fail to adapt. The ones that move forward are usually not the fastest starters, but the ones that stay in the process longer.
2. Learning Skills and Staying Consistent
Learning a new skill rarely feels smooth in the beginning. Progress is uneven, and improvement can feel slow. Without commitment, it becomes easy to stop when results are not immediate. The “I will” mindset removes that option.
Instead of judging early performance, you only have to focus on showing up consistently. You practice, adjust, and repeat without questioning whether you should continue.
3. Following Through on Long-Term Goals
Long-term goals fail because people treat them as intentions. They start with energy, but as time passes and results take longer than expected, focus drops. Without commitment, it becomes easy to shift attention to something else.
Here, the “I will” mindset keeps the goal active.
It shifts your focus from outcome to action. You break the goal into smaller steps and keep moving, even when progress is not visible right away.
Research also found that people who commit clearly to their goals and take consistent action are 42% more likely to achieve them. That shows the impact of commitment.
Decide Once and Follow Through
Most people stay stuck because they never fully decide. They keep things open, leave room for doubt, and rely on motivation to carry them forward. That works for a short time, but it breaks the moment things get difficult.
All you need to do is move from “I’ll try” to “I will.”
You already use this mindset in flying. Once a decision is made, you commit to it and work through whatever comes next. Just apply the same approach in life and whatever you go after, do it with full commitment.
If you need any guidance, go through our Life After the Sky checklist. It includes my own experiences to help you find your footing outside aviation.
Invitation to Join Our FREE Strategy Session
Most pilots are one honest conversation away from clarity. This is that conversation.
Complete our “Life After the Sky” checklist, then join me for a FREE 15-minute “Strategy Session” via Zoom.
This session is for pilots who want to take ownership of what comes next, not just to talk about it.
In just 15 minutes, we’ll:
- Review your checklist results
- Identify the one obstacle holding back your reinvention
- Translate your checklist results into a clear starting point
Start your pre-flight assessment for the next chapter of your journey by Booking your free strategy session here!
