18 Weak Excuses You Can Stop Making

Beth Hope

Below are eighteen commonly made excuses busy professionals spout instead of taking action. Try the suggested remedies to help you manage better and lead well if any of these sound familiar.

1. I don’t know what my passion is. If you want to do something but do not know what, figure out where you spent your time and money over the last three months. Start there because that’s what you currently value.
2. I don’t know what I can contribute. When you strip out the noise, the only thing you can genuinely add to anything is your perspective, and that is invaluable.
3. I don’t have enough education. Let me Google that for you. Don’t have access? Go to a library and start learning.
4. I don’t know any of the right people. People are everywhere. It’s easy to find them all over social media, through mutual friends, or by seeking out the right connections.
5. I don’t have enough money. Someone does; money is abundant. Focus on finding the right buyer.
6. I think it’s too hard. So what? If your goal were easy, you wouldn’t bother.
7. Someone else is already doing it. It does not matter; someone else is not you. Other people don’t have the same perspective and set of experiences. Competition makes you better.
8. I don’t know where to start. Progress is a two-part process; someplace and now!
9. I don’t know if anyone will care. Start with you. All that matters initially is that you care. People follow leaders who care.
10. I haven’t done this before. Everything you do now was once something you had not done before.
11. I don’t think I’m that good. Allow yourself permission to improve or delegate.
12. I’ll do it later. No, you probably won’t. You haven’t yet. Revisit #8.
13. I don’t think I can commit right now. What date can you commit?
14. There are too many obstacles. Then you are probably on to something. Great stories and extraordinary lives always have conflict.
15. I did everything I could think of doing. Probably not everything, just the things you wanted to do. Keep at it. Do it again, but different this time.
16. I’m too tired for this. Structure your day to include eating, exercising, resting, playing, and working. Every day you will be simultaneously exhausted and energized.
17. It doesn’t “feel” right to me. People often use feelings as an excuse to avoid something your head knows is best. Feelings are important in their own right, so do not saddle them as an alibi for inaction.
18. I’m worried people will think I’m crazy. What your experiencing is called innovation; embrace it. Be one of the crazy ones.

Occasionally excuses are valid, but stop making them if you are whining or wasting your time trying to craft plausible reasons for your inaction. Instead, use that energy to pursue your great goal.

Boston-bred and California-chilled Karl Bimshas is a leadership consultant, author, and podcast host who collaborates with underestimated professionals who want to become confident, competent leaders in their field without becoming a jerk.

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