The much-ballyhooed agreement that rescue funds could buy embattled countries' bonds without onerous extra conditions was just a political promise to do something already allowed.

ECONOMIST: The euro crisis

His most memorable campaign declaration--his acceptance-speech pledge of "no new taxes"--was a promise not to do something.

CNN: latimes.com: Bush the son uses policy campaign to distance himself from the father

If something happened that made it impossible for you to deliver on a promise, speak up and do everything in your power to fix it.

FORBES: How to Be a More Reliable Professional