Excuses

I listen to excuses all day—ALL DAY—and yet, I rarely see anyone seeking a resolution. When we offer solutions, they often dismiss our suggestions as if we don’t know what we’re talking about. One particular incident stands out: a woman once told me that she didn’t care about her “size” or “weight.” She said, “My husband says women are just like cars; it doesn’t matter what you drive as long as it gets you there.” She would often repeat this to the other women who were working hard and making progress.

In my younger years, I didn’t have the skills to hold my tongue. I responded,

“Your husband has two cars in the garage. One is an old beat-up Ford Escort, and the other is a brand new Ferrari. Both cars run fine and will get him to work, but which car do you think he will choose to drive?”

She made a face and walked out.

Stop making excuses for yourself. As a Navy veteran, I’ll borrow a phrase from the Army: “Be all that you can be.”