Get a Bigger Plate by Krystal Zellmer

Do you have any words that trigger you? Words that, when spoken, make your ears perk up and your heart pay attention? One of those words for me is “overcommitted.”

I work with many highly successful individuals. Not many of them run light schedules. They accomplish a lot, and their calendars reflect that. Yet, I’ve noticed something interesting—the most productive people I know never tell me they are overcommitted. Why is that? They certainly have more commitments than the average person, so why don’t they describe themselves as overwhelmed?

On the other hand, I often work with people who do feel overcommitted—overwhelmed by everything on their plate. They feel trapped by their commitments, leading them to the conclusion that they are overcommitted. Their solution? Canceling or breaking commitments to relieve the perceived pressure.

This is where the concept of overcommitment becomes fascinating. Have you ever felt overcommitted and started looking for ways to back out just to ease the pressure? But how did you reach that level of commitment in the first place? I’d suggest that canceling commitments won’t truly solve the problem—it’s only a temporary fix. There was a thought process, a mindset, that got you here. And if you simply break your word and back out of commitments—whether to yourself or others—you haven't actually changed the cycle that led you here.

I’m not suggesting you run yourself ragged. There’s a time and place to create margin in your life. But not by canceling commitments you’ve already made. Instead, honor your word and complete what you’ve committed to. Then, re-evaluate what you say yes to moving forward. The discipline of following through on your commitments will shift how you see yourself in relation to your word. It will also change what you choose to commit to in the first place.

If you become someone who always follows through, you close the fire escape of “overcommitment” as an excuse to back out. Finishing what you start will force you to think twice about what’s truly valuable enough to say yes to.

Ultimately, it comes down to capacity. What do you believe your capacity is? Most people judge theirs based on a preconceived notion of who they are or what they think they can handle—without ever testing that belief. But you can never truly know your capacity until you push it. If you give your commitments everything you’ve got, you may be astonished at what you’re actually capable of. You might just expand your own capacity for success.

Do you know what Brian Klemmer would have told you?

Get a bigger plate.

You are a leader. You are a Compassionate Samurai. You were built to make a difference, and that calling will continue to stretch you toward bigger and better things.

How do you do it all?

Get a bigger plate.