Below are eighteen commonly made (and lame) excuses you may have heard — or made — for not engaging in something new. See if any of these excuses sound familiar and review the suggested no-nonsense remedies to help you achieve your next great goal.
- I don’t know what my passion is. If you want to do something, but do not know what, figure out where your time and money have been spent over the last three months. Start there, because that’s what you currently value.
- I don’t know what I can contribute. When you strip out the noise, the only thing you can truly add to anything is your perspective, and that is invaluable.
- I don’t have enough education. Let me Google that for you. Don’t have access? Go to a library and start learning.
- I don’t know any of the right people. People are all over social media. It’s easy to find them through mutual friends or by seeking out the right connections.
- I don’t have enough money. Someone does; money is everywhere. Focus on finding the right buyer.
- I think it’s too hard. So what? If your goal were easy, you wouldn’t bother.
- Someone else is already doing it. It does not matter; someone else is not you. Other people don’t have your same perspective and set of experiences. Competition makes you better.
- I don’t know where to start. Progress is a two part process; someplace and now!
- I don’t know if anyone will care. Start with you. All that matters initially is that you care. People follow leaders who care.
- I haven’t done this before. Everything you do now was once something you had not done before.
- I don’t think I’m that good. Allow yourself permission to improve or delegate.
- I’ll do it later. No, you probably won’t. You haven’t yet. Revisit #8.
- I don’t think I can commit right now. What date can you commit?
- There are too many obstacles. Then you are probably on to something. Great stories and great lives always have conflict.
- I did everything I could think of. Probably not everything, just the things you wanted to do. Keep at it. Do it again, but different this time.
- 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.
- It doesn’t “feel” right to me. Feelings are often used 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.
- I’m worried people will think I’m crazy. That is called innovation, embrace it. Be one of the crazy ones.
Some excuses are valid, but if you are wasting time trying to craft a failsafe reason for your inaction, stop. Instead, use your energy for pursuing your goal..
Also published on Medium.