Remember when our word was our bond, and a handshake sealed a deal? We made a commitment, kept it and expected others to do the same. Even when it was inconvenient, we kept our commitments, in business and in our personal lives. So much has changed.

I have a knack for committing to verbal agreements with people who later only remember what was in their best interest. It happened to me again this last week with my ski lease. At the beginning of the season, I couldn’t get the owner to write a full contract – she told me she was too busy and she trusted me. I bit on that hook and went for the ski lease with no written agreement – assuming, as she’d told me, we’d follow our verbal agreement.

Now, she’s forgotten most of what we said. Her demands are all about what makes the deal convenient – and even more profitable for her – with no consideration of our previous discussion. She’s even accused me of making up the conversations I documented via email. So much for that verbal agreement.

I’m disappointed. When push came to shove – she’s changing the discussion to what’s convenient for her, regardless of a previous commitment which I have honored.

What’s up with our world?

One week I’m seeing the tide of Go Givers rise with the release of Go Givers Sell More – and the next week I’m wondering if Go Givers are in a vast minority. Has commitment come to mean when its convenient? If that’s the case, we’re in deeper trouble. If everything has to be in writing, approved by the legal beagles, all the I’s dotted and T’s crossed – just to protect ourselves – we’re in big trouble.

We can never create a written agreement as powerful as our commitment to keep our word. If we must put everything in writing – the energy and expense (not to mention the legal hassles) overwhelm the opportunity to partner. Who wants to work with another company, buy a service or even rent a room if the legal fees out weigh the upside opportunity.

Do you experience convenient commitments? I’d really appreciate your thoughts. Are people keeping their agreements less often – or am I just running into the folks with the issues? In over 20 years as a strategic consultant I’ve led more than 100 successful client engagements. I help companies grow by creating market strategies, redefining companies and products, launching these same companies and powering successful sales and marketing endeavors. My clients tell me I have a unique ability to understand technology and pinpoint its value – and then deliver a go-to-market strategy that works. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on my book, Defying Gravity, available fall of 2010.