IF IT'S YOU, OWN IT!

"Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power."

Benjamin Disraeli, 19th century British politician/author.

If you more often cite circumstances, not you, as the reason for your failures, you just discovered the real reason.

ONLY THE TIME IT TAKES

"One must pass through the circumference of time before arriving at the center of opportunity."

Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658) Spanish philosopher/writer.

But only the time it takes to reach the center of your opportunity.

Don't delay arriving there, the result of useless procrastination or lack of planning.

Understand what you need to do to get where you want to be, to become what you want to be, then do it.

LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU OWN IT

"One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility."

Eleanor Roosevelt, 20th century American politician

The choices you make are your responsibility.

Put excuses aside, do what is right, what you said you would do.

ONLY IF ASKED

"There is no waste of time in life like that of making explanations."

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) British politician/author.

The answer to the question "Did you do what you said you would do?" is either yes or no. 

Explanations/excuses can follow (only) if requested.

YOU MAYBE, NOT ME

"Every man, in his own opinion, forms an exception to the ordinary rules of morality."

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) British essayist.

The excuses we allow ourselves for being exceptions to rules we don't wish to follow.

Make no mistake about it, they are rules nevertheless.

I INTENDED TO POST THIS YESTERDAY BUT . . .

"I am sure of nothing so little as my own intentions."

Lord Byron (1788-1824) British poet

As with offering to pay for groceries using money you intended but did not bring to the store, your intentions to do most anything are only valuable when you actually do them.

ANY COLOR AS LONG AS IT'S BLACK

"Hell, there are no rules here, we are trying to accomplish something."

Thomas Alva Edison

Late 19th/early 20th century American inventor

We often exempt ourselves from rules we make for others (just ask my boys).

I wonder if Mr. Edison saw the irony in his statement?

GIT 'ER DONE!

"Talk doesn't cook rice."

Chinese proverb

How much "rice" have you cooked as opposed to having talked about cooking?

"I CAN'T UNTIL . . ." NEVER HAPPENS

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."

Samuel Johnson

18th century British author

And none are more egregious than objections you give yourself.

Own It!

"All business depends upon men fulfilling their responsibilities."

Mahatma Gandhi

Late 19th/early 20th century leader of Indian nationalism

Excuses may explain why you didn't accomplish your goals but they don't excuse your failure.

Ultimately it comes down to put up or shut up.

No one gets paid forever simply explaining failure.

What You Do, Not Reasons Why You Didn't

"It's no use saying "We are doing our best." You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary."

Winston Churchill

20th century British politician

Excuses you give your boss explaining why something didn't get done are only that.

Excuses

You are paid for accomplishments.

How Much Time Do You Have?

"Time cuts down all, both great and small."

Unknown

In other words a lack of time is no excuse for failure, we all have 24/7 of however many days we live on this earth.

Use yours wisely.

I Didn't Because _______

"An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded."

Alexander Pope

18th century English poet

Not always; some excuses are honest explanations for failure.

But I'm being kind.

All too often they are a lie.

I Can Explain!

"The accidental reveals man."

Pablo Picasso

20th century Spanish painter

Accidents do happen but if you find you are often explaining your failures as being the result of things beyond your control . . .

Whether stated clearly as such or not, one of management's greatest responsibilities is to reduce "accidents".

Accomplish More Than Excuse

"It is no use saying, "We are doing our best."  You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary."

Winston Churchill

20th century British statesman

This may sound heartless and it would be taken to the extreme, but as things stand, there is no danger in that.

To the contrary, too many of us, sometimes including me, spend far more time explaining why we didn't do something than we do doing it.

But when it comes to business no amount of excuses will save you.

Succeed or go home.

Results: Nothing Less!

"Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts."

Edward R. Murrow

Often I heard from employees and kids why something expected would not be happening.

I found it difficult to explain that no matter the reason, our client, the teacher, coach, etc., wouldn't care why something they were told would happen, wasn't going to as they assumed.

However, as Mr. Murrow said, the fact that I found getting this point across to be difficult, did not relieve me of the responsibility to do so.

In the end, reward goes to those who perform rather than those who explain why they don't and that is just as true for us adults as it is for our kids.