Tag Archives: Excuses

Complainers build walls with their words and wonder why they’re trapped

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Complainers build walls with their words and wonder why they’re trapped.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Omar Prestwich

Every gripe is a brick.

Every excuse is a layer of mortar, slowly constructing an invisible prison.

The irony is brutal: the person who feels most confined is often the one doing the building.

Words shape attention. Complain long enough and the mind becomes an architect of obstacles, seeing only what is wrong, never what is possible.

The wall grows higher. The options shrink.

The way out is simple: speak differently. Trade “This is terrible” for “This is a challenge I can influence.”

Curiosity: “What can I do about this?” – is a doorway. Responsibility is the first step through it.

EXERCISE:

Try giving yourself and others a three to five minute “vent window” to complain and then require either a positive action or let it go.

When you meet someone who doesn’t make excuses

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“When you meet someone who doesn’t make excuses, who doesn’t complain, who just rolls up their sleeves and grits their teeth, the difference is night and day.”

—Dan Cullem, Product Manager at Facebook

Image from Unsplash by dlxmedia.hu

The person described in today’s quote owns their circumstances, no matter how tough the game gets.

They don’t sit back and hope for change, they make it happen. That grit, that relentless drive, separates the dreamers from the doers.

If you want to win in life, start by dropping the excuses and embrace life’s rough edges to smooth your path in the coming days.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life would not making excuses or complaining make the biggest difference?

What gritty roll-up-your sleeves efforts will you take today to rise above your current challenges?

Your excuses will never be as good as the story of how you got it done

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“Your excuses will never be as good as the story of how you got it done.”

—Chris Brogan, professional keynote speaker

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

A wise teacher from my past once said, “A good excuse with no results is still no results.” Giving up on a worthy effort even with what seems like a good reason is easy to do. After all, we did try, and things just didn’t work out.

Stop for a moment and ask yourself how often others have overcome the obstacle that appears to be in your way.  How did they get around it, over it, or through it? What resolve and more novel approaches did they take to achieve what for you is a dead end?

What examples do you have from your own life in which you rose above your excuses to accomplish something remarkable? Note how much fun you have telling the story of how you got it done.

EXERCISE:

Where are you currently making excuses for your own lack of results? How can and will you channel the hero within to overcome all the internal and external obstacles to tell the story of your eventual victory?

Consider check out the book Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo for a fresh and fun perspective on this topic.

A Person Who Buys Excuses

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“A person who buys excuses will soon attempt to sell them to others.”

—Orrin Woodward, Author and Chairman of Board of Life

A wise coach once told me that no results and a good excuse still produced no results. What is your relationship with making or receiving excuses, personally or professionally?

For some it appears as a Get-Out-of-Jail Card, like in a Monopoly game, where we expect a free pass. For others it is to sail through obstacles or barriers simply because we had good intentions.

EXERCISE:

What would be the benefit or value of limiting or eliminating the buying and selling of excuses? In what specific situation or with what specific person could you begin this practice today?