Stop Making Excuses By Doing These Three Things

When I was in my teen years, I was in the process of earning my 2nd black belt and this one was going to be in Shotokan Karate.  I had an instructor who was hardcore and also had a strong Japanese accent, who was sometimes hard to understand. Since I had already earned a black belt when I was younger, I felt that Shotokan was going to be a breeze and didn’t really require my full attention. I would show up for some of the classes and others I would skip completely. When the belt testing came around I would show up and pass…until I didn’t.  

My Excuse

I was stuck on Green Belt for almost 2 years. No matter what I did, my sensei kept on telling me the same thing, “Tristan, you must focus on your base.” I started getting annoyed after a few months of hearing the same thing, because I was working on my base and I was working on the basics as well. It wasn’t until I didn’t pass the green belt test the second time that I finally broke down and approached my sensei and asked him what I needed to do to make some progress.  

What I heard surprised me and has made me into the person I am today. I approached him and asked what I could do to pass, and I expressed that I was ready to commit fully. He then told me this: “Mr. Ahumada, you are always coming up with an excuse for why you don’t show up to classes, you are always thinking you are better than the rest. I see now that are finally ready to put all of that behind you.”  

That day I removed my belt and wore a white belt until I earned my black belt in Shotokan. I learned that I was not showing up to win, I was making excuses in my life. I was also treating those around me as inadequate because I felt superior to them. Because of my past experience, I wasn’t trying as hard to win. Both of those things were not examples of a champion that my sensei wanted to grant anything to.  

There’s a quote I always remember when I think back to this moment in my life. Jim Rohn said, “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” 

Can I tell you one of the worst kept secrets?

Nobody likes people who make excuses. You either say what you do and do it, or you don’t. 

No one likes people that make excuses for not showing up and no one enjoys playing with people that don’t show up to win and play at 100 percent.  

Before I could stop making excuses of not showing up and before I could level up in front of my Sensei’s eyes, I needed to change my mindset. I look back now and wish I would have learned that lesson sooner in my life, but we learn as we go.  

As A Man Thinketh

James Allen was a British philosopher and writer as well as a pioneer of the self-help movement in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He wrote “As a Man Thinketh” which is based on the Biblical Verse Proverbs 23:7. It states, “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” 

“Your THOUGHTS determine your ATTITUDE, your ATTITUDE drives your BEHAVIORS, and your BEHAVIORS determine your RESULTS.” – Allen.  So if you are not pleased with the results you are getting, see what you can learn by assessing and better understanding your thoughts. 

Now I’m asking you, What’s your excuse? 

Have you fallen victim to your own excuses? To your own thought that there is always a reason that you don’t do whatever you’re going to do? 

Here’s how you begin the change. You start with your thoughts. 

Step #1 – It’s okay to be wrong and fail.  

You have to give yourself permission to fail and be wrong. Sometimes we have this false perception of how society sees us and if we don’t make up an excuse of why we aren’t there, then we will be judged. Well, Surprise! People are judging your ass anyway. From the way you look, smell, eat, talk, walk… It’s time to realize that it’s okay to do things wrong and fail. 

Step #2 – Take responsibility for situations in your life.  

If you’re not where you want to be, it’s not your car’s fault. It’s not because you “didn’t know.” I didn’t know is the lamest excuse you can find. Whose fault is it that you didn’t know? 

Stop blaming others for your position in life. Stop blaming others for being where you are, and stop blaming things that you don’t have for being where you are in life.  

Simply take responsibly for your life. Realize that you are where you are and that’s okay. You start by taking on one thing at a time and realize that it’s going to be a slow process getting out of the mess you created for yourself. If you don’t have any sales in real estate or you’re doing terrible in real estate, it’s time to work on the one thing that will get you out of this mess. Focus on your strength and take responsibility for your failures and your success.  

Step #3 – Find the reason that you want to succeed and nothing else will matter.

You will be driven to achieve. Instead of giving excuses you will learn and grow and get results. Write down the reasons you want to succeed. Let me clue you in on something… The reason isn’t money. Ask yourself this one question to get yourself going in the right direction: “How Do You Inspire Others?”  

You don’t know how? Well, ask the closest people to you. When you get the answer, then focus on that even more. That’s your strength and that’s what people are noticing and that’s what you want to double down on. 

It’s a question I ask myself often. I also ask my family and those close to me, “How do I inspire you?” or “Why do you look up to me?” Asking these questions will help you by identifying the reason people like you, and it will make your purpose clearer.  

Stop making excuses in your life and start executing what you want to achieve one thing at a time. One hour at time.