Execution often falters because the goals set tend to lack emotional weight. Author Matthew Cossolotto believes the issue takes root in how commitments are framed. He argues that progress happens when important goals are reframed as promises, which often carry emotional and psychological accountability.
Cossolotto believes the distinction lies in emotional engagement. "A promise comes from the heart," Cossolotto says. He believes that a promise introduces a level of personal commitment that standard goal-setting frameworks may fail to create.
Goals, in his view, tend to remain brain-centered exercises, while promises activate a deeper sense of responsibility. "There's an emotional bond when you make a promise to yourself, to someone you care about, even to something more cosmic," he says. That bond, he adds, increases the likelihood of follow-through because people are conditioned to value promise-keeping.
He points to behavioral trends to reinforce his perspective. Every New Year, people often make a list of resolutions to follow, yet by 'Quitters Day' (the second Friday of January), as many as 80% of resolutions are already neglected. Cossolotto interprets this as evidence that good intentions alone are insufficient.
"When you're talking about traditional goal-setting, the emotion behind it is often missing. Resolutions tend to be more cerebral, something that comes from the practical part of the brain. That's one of the biggest reasons they're seldom achieved," Cossolotto says. Converting those goals and intentions into promises instead, he believes, can reinforce commitment over time.
Cossolotto underscores the concept of Personal Empowerment Promises, something he emphasizes across his books, presentations, and his Personal Empowerment Programs (PEPTalks), which are designed to help clients reach their peak potential. "We all have access to this innate PromisePower. We just have to tap into it, to harness it. Success, ultimately, is an inside job."
Studies show that promises are considered powerful levers for behavioral change. Cossolotto's "GPS Success Formula" (Turn Goals into Promises = Success) expands on that fact. He frames it as a practical way to stay aligned with long-term goals, drawing parallels to an actual GPS that allows one to stay on track. "Important goals can be turned into heartfelt promises. A promise is uniquely powerful, so you're more likely to follow through and keep your word," he says.
The idea is rooted in personal experience. Cossolotto references a promise he made to his mother to complete a book she encouraged him to write and dedicated it to her memory. He believes that promise was the ultimate driver to finish his book HabitForce.
"I promised her that I would finish writing the book. That was the promise that started it all," he says.
After the completion of his first book, he followed with The Joy of Public Speaking, which stands as a guidebook to help tackle stage fright and build a command of words. Harness Your PromisePower is Cossolotto's newest release, which encapsulates his insights on the effectiveness of promises for personal and professional transformation. The upcoming book, Harness Your HabitForce, will highlight the seven habits of FAILURE and SUCCESS. The three books, he notes, constitute his personal empowerment trilogy.
The trilogy is part of his broader system, including coaching and speaking programs that focus on sharing the tools required for empowering mindset shifts. This approach, he notes, applies to three essential 'power tools' or the Triad Empowerment System, encompassing habits, speaking, and promises. Cossolotto notes that the system is designed for leaders and aspiring leaders. He believes many individuals are held back by "FAILURE traps," including making excuses and failing to take action.
He says, "You need to recognize those habits, reject them, and replace them with a SUCCESS habit." The success habit, he notes, follows an empowerment mindset, where personal responsibility becomes key.
He also positions public speaking as a core leadership skill and an integral part of his personal empowerment system. Cossolotto believes fear and intimidation in this area limit professional growth, highlighting research which suggests that as much as 75% of the US population experiences some level of stage fright. "If people go through life unwilling to speak up, they're holding themselves back from reaching their peak potential," he says. "My focus is to turn stage fright into stage delight."
Cossolotto adds that Harness Your PromisePower includes a foreword by Chicken Soup for the Soul co-creator Jack Canfield. In his foreword, Canfield writes: "There truly is something special about a promise, and I congratulate Matthew for shining light on its unique power." Author John Assaraf shares a personal promise story in the book and adds, "There is something uniquely powerful about making a promise that goes beyond traditional goal setting. His mission has the potential to be of enormous benefit to many others."
In the future, Cossolotto's mission is to expand awareness of PromisePower. He is working to establish "Make a Promise Day" on May 4th as a way to encourage individuals to tap into their PromisePower. "My mission is to share the power of making a promise with millions of people around the world. And I intend to keep that promise," he says.
Cossolotto's perspective remains grounded in the belief that while goals can help to provide direction, they do not always hold under pressure. "Promises are heartfelt, and therefore more difficult to abandon," he says, "I want people to appreciate the unique power of making a promise."
