Excuses Kill A Cause

I had good intentions.  But my cup runneth over.  Or should I say, my plate is too full and I just couldn’t get it all done.  Or better yet, I have many excuses to justify why I just can’t do it. For all of us, those excuses become hurdles in our minds that we cannot clear. Excuses kill a cause.

Last night I had every intention of getting it done.  But after a long two days, getting home late, unloading, and then heading to the rental to check for a roof leak it just didn’t happen.  Not to mention that the next day we had dinner with friends, then worked all day, and Carmen worked even later. Again, I didn’t do what I had intended.  After all, I was exhausted.

Justified

So last night I felt my actions (or lack of them) were justified because of the previous two days.  I was totally justified.  After all, I needed to chill, re-energize, and be ready for a productive day today.

Benjamin Franklin once said,

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” 

Yikes!  Of course he is not talking about me!

In my work as a business coach and franchise consultant, I’ve heard plenty of excuses for why business owners are not successful.  I get it – been there done that!  There are plenty of challenges as a business owner.  Or for that matter, there are plenty of challenges in any area of life as an employee, as a parent, as a spouse, heck…as a human being!

Excuses Commonly Used:

• I can’t compete because I am just not good enough.
• I don’t have the money.
• My competitors underprice me.
• The customer is too picky.
• No one ever told me that.
• I’m too old for this.
• I don’t have the support I need.
• I just can’t get motivated – I’ll start tomorrow.
• I don’t have the talent, skills, or knowledge.
• I’m afraid, so I’ll just stick to what I’m already doing or what I know.

Most famous excuse ever used?

Genesis 3:12  ESV

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

What’s the best excuse you’ve ever used?  Put it in the comments below.

Let Me Be Blunt – There Are No Excuses.

The world isn’t getting any better.  You are not getting any younger.  We are approaching another year.  It’s time to start moving forward.  There is no entitlement.  There are NO roadblocks to accomplishing what you want, only excuses.  Again, excuses kill a cause. So no excuses, agreed?

If not now, when?  Don’t let the days slip into weeks, then months into another year now gone.  There are solutions to every one of the above excuses and any other challenges you face.  It’s time to quit the excuses and put a plan in place to make it happen. 

What Are You Hiding Under?

My pastor was talking with someone once and he asked the man how he was doing.  He replied, “Okay under the circumstances.”  My pastor replied, “What are you doing under there?”

Are not your dreams and goals worth pushing through for the solution?  Isn’t that why you started a business or took the job you have, to make a difference?  To make an impact?  Do you not know the difference you make?  For your family, those you work with, the people around you, your employees, and your community?  God has a plan for you to have an impact in order to fulfill His purpose. 

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-19  ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This is The Great Commission.  This is God’s purpose, that all would have the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So if He has been given all authority, and He is sending you to implement your plan, to have an impact, don’t you know that He will equip you to accomplish that which He sent you forth to do?

For a related blog post, go to A Dream That Drives You Like No Other.

Challenge of the Week: 

Write out all the excuses you are using as to why you can’t.  Excuses kill a cause. Go sit with Jesus (because He’s there with you) and work through the excuses you have been using.  Refocus on your dreams (your motivation), and go clear those hurdles!  So be it!

PS – Email me and I will give you some simple strategies to start putting this into action.