That is a classic example of the sort of EXCUSES we have flying around today. I once heard an inspiring true life story about this woman who was having a bad break. She was diagnosed with clinical depression & contemplated suicide. Also, her marriage had failed; she was jobless; and she had a dependent child. Despite all these, she managed to write her first book, using an old manual typewriter. Twelve editors rejected her work, and one even told her to quit writing and get a day job, as she had little chances making money writing children’s books. However, she didn’t quit, and amazingly got lucky as someone agreed to publish her book. That single book launched the commencement of the “Harry Potter Series” and the woman is J.K Rowling. Today, she is the 12th richest woman in the United Kingdom, and the UK’s bestselling living author. So, I now ask; what’s your excuse?
While our situations are all peculiar, and sometimes an excuse seems just right, applying 3 simple tips can help turn our pain to purpose, our infliction to inspiration, and our mess to a message.
The first is DESIRE. Desire can be described as a strong feeling or longing for something. There is a popular maxim that “Excuses are the nails with which the house of failure is built” & Jim Rohn once said “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way, if you don’t you’ll find an excuse” I imagine that someone’s excuse may be fear of failure. However, we ought to know that there’s so much strength we can draw from our innermost desires. The difference between a successful man & an average man is sometimes found in the ability to dig deep and CONNECT with our innermost desire. As Napoleon Hill said “The starting point of all achievement is desire”
The tip that follows next is DETERMINATION. Have you ever heard someone say these words to you “I have tried”. I’m certain you may have heard those words severally. Do you know that according to web sources, Michael Jordan missed more than 9,000 shots in his career and lost right about 300 games? Yet he never stopped gunning for glory. When Thomas Edison was reported to have failed about 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb, he responded by saying; “I only learnt 10,000 ways that wouldn’t work”. How about the current president of Nigeria, consider his resoluteness over a twelve year period, losing three major elections before finally winning in 2015. If he can do it, then what’s your excuse?
The final tip is DISCIPLINE. In his book “Outliers”, Malcom Gladwell said ““No one who can rise before dawn three hundred and sixty days a year fails to make his family rich.”. I recall the heart wrenching story of a young boy whose childhood was marred and scarred with countless miserable experiences at the home front. He even had to stay in a foster home at 8 years old. He grew up, failed on his job & his girlfriend also deserted him because of his dwindling finances. He was homeless, and had to sleep in motel parks, airports and public toilets with his young son. Despite all these, he disciplined himself, went on to pass his licensing exams, and became a full time employee of Dean & Witter. Five years later, he established his own brokerage firm, and his business grew continuously. Today he is a multimillionaire and his name is Chris Gardner. His story & life was published in the book & movies “In pursuit of Happyness” Is your story this bad? If not, then what’s your excuse?
Summarily, we have identified Discipline, Determination & Desire as three distinct D’s that has helped people smash through the status quo and live above excuses. Say to yourself; No more ‘I’m too tired’, No more; ‘I don’t have time’, No more ‘It’s too hard’. You know why, it’s simply because you can do all things, and you’re made for bigger!
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