Al Davis loved to be called a maverick.

The former Oakland Raiders’ owner loved to be unorthodox in his approach, independent and not caring what others thought.

He dedicated his life to football, specifically to the team he owned, wanting everyone who worked for him to have the same level of commitment to excellence that he contently preached.

He would tell everyone who entered his organization, “You don’t work in the NFL; you live in the NFL.”

Living in the NFL for Davis meant a total commitment to helping the team win- any way possible — a dedication above and beyond the job description and always thinking about the team, constantly finding ways to improve your knowledge of the league and what it takes to win. Some might say commitment and hard work are the same thing. Not Davis.

For Davis, commitment and hard work are related yet distinct concepts.

Commitment refers to the state or quality of dedication and loyalty to a cause, task, or relationship. It involves making a promise or pledge and following through with it, even when faced with obstacles or challenges. Commitment often requires perseverance, determination, and a strong sense of responsibility.

On the other hand, hard work is the application of consistent effort, dedication, and perseverance toward a specific goal or task. It involves putting in significant time, energy, and concentration to achieve desired results. Hard work often requires sacrificing leisure activities, overcoming challenges and obstacles, and pushing oneself beyond one's comfort zone. It is characterized by a strong work ethic, discipline, and a willingness to go the extra mile to accomplish objectives.

While commitment and hard work share similarities in that they both involve dedication and perseverance toward achieving a goal, there are also differences between them.

Firstly, in terms of nature, commitment is more focused on the state of being dedicated and loyal, while hard work emphasizes the physical and mental effort put into achieving results.

Secondly, commitment can be applied to various aspects of life, such as personal relationships, work, goals, and values. It involves a sense of responsibility and loyalty. On the other hand, hard work is more focused on putting in effort towards a specific task or goal.

Thirdly, commitment is more rooted in a sense of loyalty, dedication, and responsibility. It often involves a long-term perspective and a willingness to overcome challenges. On the other hand, hard work emphasizes the discipline, effort, and time dedicated to achieving a goal.

Commitment is more focused on the attitude and dedication towards a task or goal, whereas hard work is more focused on the actual effort and actions taken to achieve the desired outcome.

Commitment for Davis focused on loyalty and dedication, while hard work emphasizes effort and action towards a goal. Davis wanted everyone committed and then to work hard towards the goal of winning. Understanding the differences helps those we lead become more aware of what is expected.

Commitment to excellence was his favorite saying. Then came “Just Win, Baby.”

Davis wanted both — but commitment had to come first.