Listen up. We’re going to dive headfirst into something most people choke on: excuses. No sugar-coating, no corporate bullshit. An excuse is just a story you tell yourself and others to explain away your screw-ups, your laziness, or your failures. It’s a shield for weaklings, and it makes your pathetic behavior seem acceptable. It isn’t.

I used to be a master of the excuse. I had one for everything. Until I figured out that all it did was make me sound like a whiny, complaining ass. And that ain't a good look for anyone trying to get ahead.

The Airport Test: No Room for Excuses

I’ve spent years working the counter at the resource center—that’s airline talk for the place where people show up with their problems. Every damn day, people miss flights. And a lot of them, when they get to me, are breathless, full of self-pity, and ready to unload a truckload of excuses about why they deserve a free pass, a free rebooking, and a pat on the back.

One day, this woman ambles up to my counter, a full hour after her flight to San Juan had already buggered off. First thing out of her mouth: “Is the flight still here?” I just stared. I already knew the answer. She was either five hours early or an hour late. She confirmed the latter.

“How can I get to San Juan today? The dumb traffic, the dumb Uber, the dumb everything.”

Here’s the thing: I’m in the business of teaching people how to get uncomfortable. That day, I was selling that concept hard. I looked her dead in the eye. “Ma’am,” I said, cutting through her pity party. “Why were you really one hour late?”

She looked at me like I’d just sprouted a second head. Pure shock. I asked again, but this time, I tossed in an incentive. “Ma’am, if you tell me the real reason, I’ll rebook your flight for tonight for free. You can still make your sister’s wedding.”

The look of doom again. She started with the traffic. Her friend didn’t do something. She didn’t have money. The usual song and dance.

I leaned in. “If YOU tell me, right now, who created this situation for you, I will rebook your flight free of charge, and you can save the day for your sister’s wedding. But only if you’re honest.”

She caught on. It was tough for her, but she mumbled something about it being partly her fault. Not good enough. Not even close.

“Ma’am,” I pressed, “If you can tell me, in your own words, that you just woke up three hours ago, didn’t pack, stayed up all night, got drunk, and didn’t give a damn about making your flight, I will rebook your ticket free of charge.”

She froze. Then she started to laugh. She asked if I did this to everyone. Then, finally, the truth spilled out. “You’re right,” she said. “I did stay up last night. I only packed my bags today. And I did leave the house late.”

Then I rebooked her ticket.

The Ugly Truth About Excuses

Excuses don't make you great. And that woman didn't have to tell me the truth. She was the customer, right? But here’s what I see every single day: people who are either winning or losing, great or ordinary, extraordinary or just plain average. And I am sick and tired of listening to the endless stream of excuses from folks who'd probably be better off keeping their mouths shut.

Yeah, I get it. This is America, and everyone’s entitled to an opinion. But no one said that opinion had to be an excuse. And nobody, not a single damn person, ever achieved greatness by rattling off a list of reasons why they couldn't or shouldn't or wouldn't. Excuses aren't opinions; they're confessions of weakness.

So, how do you ditch this pathetic excuse train?

  • Jump off, head first, no cap. Jump like that train is rigged to explode any second. Do it now. Never get back on. That train won't make you great; it’ll just make you soft.
  • Shut your damn mouth if it's going to be an excuse. I'd rather hear nothing than hear another tired tale about traffic, the weather, or your terrible luck.
  • Create behaviors that don’t allow for excuses. Get up early. Leave early. If you're late, apologize, own it, and move on. Don't add a story.
  • Quit blaming everything and everyone else. The traffic, the cop, the government, the Uber driver, the tree, the sun, your kids, your spouse – none of these are the cause of you not reaching your potential. Again, just shut up.
  • Be honest. Be real. Be direct. Your body language, the way you fidget and avoid eye contact – that's just another excuse in motion. Kill it.
  • Ditch the excuse-makers. If someone around you is constantly whining and blaming, cut them loose. You don't need that poison in your life. Don't tolerate it.
  • Society doesn’t mold you. Tradition doesn’t mold you. Only you mold you. Take control.
  • Seek out great people. Gravitate toward those who take ownership, who produce, who get results. Learn from them.
  • Be conscious of what you're saying and doing. Make sure your actions align with your words. Don’t be a punk who talks a big game but crumbles under pressure.

Remain uncomfortable.

Kill the comfort today

  • Identify one recurring excuse you make, then commit to a specific action to eliminate its root cause within 48 hours.
  • Call out a friend or colleague (respectfully but firmly) on an excuse they just made, and then offer a practical solution instead.
  • Before reacting to a setback, pause and identify at least three ways you personally contributed to the situation, taking full ownership before considering external factors.