Malcom Gladwell in David and Goliath made a compelling case about the excuses David would have presented when he decided he was going to fight Goliath. In his introductory page the author articulated two strong ideas. First, much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of these kind of lopsided conflicts, because, according to Gladwell, the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty. And second, that we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong. Giants are not what we think they are, the same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.
Most times, the excuses we give for not getting a good education, married, or traveling around the world, or pursuing our dreams are excuses we could flip and get things done with. Most heroes have excuses they would have given, but they choose not to make excuses, because excuses are very easy to make. You don’t need a brand name for it, neither does it have to be outsourced. It can be locally created by the individual that upholds it. The unanswered question, is not whether you will make excuses but when will you start using your excuses as an advantage.
It’s never too late or too early to be who you are capable of being. There’s no perfect time – you can simply start and stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. You can make the best or the worst of today. It’s up to you, so make the best of it and stop giving excuses. Do things that startle you. Feel things you’ve never felt before. Engage with people who help you grow, not the ones that strengthen your excuses. Live a life you’re proud of. And if you find that you’re not, have the courage to change things. Don’t make excuses.
Evans Akpo 