Trapped By Excuses

Risk terrifies the faint of heart and inspires the entrepreneurial spirit.

The motto of the “Don’t Dare Try It” people according to John Maxwell in his book “Failing Forward” reads “I would rather try nothing great and succeed than try something great and risk failure.” Such a statement and belief tears at my soul. As one who has been psychologically unemployable, an entrepreneur, for over thirty years, that is inconceivable. Yet I know people who actually think in that exact pattern.

The motto of the “Don’t Dare Miss it” people reads “I would rather try something great and fail than try nothing great and succeed.” Only through stretching ourselves, stepping out of our comfort zone and risking do we achieve fulfillment. Success never chases you down begging to bestow its rewards upon you. Every success requires some risk but the greatest risk of all consists of doing nothing and regretting the result.

Why do people avoid taking risk? There are six common traps which make people back away from risk. The ideas for the titles belong to John Maxwell.
1. Embarrassment Trap

No one chooses to fail and lose face. Every successful person, myself included, has several people around them not only expecting them to fail but openly stating the expectation of failure. Are you going to let that stop you? The true committed entrepreneur shrugs it off and proceeds forward. The timid quit. If you fail, so what. Don’t gift wrap the garbage. Let it go and go on.

2. Rationalization Trap

Even know someone who gets caught over analyzing everything? Keep picking at anything long enough and you can find a way to talk yourself out of taking action. Analysis paralysis disease afflicts everyone who seeks an excuse not to take action. Due diligence to the extreme in order to avoid making a decision.

3. Unrealistic Expectation Trap

This person starts a new business in an industry where they have zero experience, plans to invest very little money and earn a multiple 5 figure income within 30 days. Fast money with no effort simply does not exist. Success requires effort.

4. Fairness Trap

Whining that something should not have happened to you does absolutely nothing to solve the problem. Complaining that something was not fair smacks of the blame game or “poor me.” Nothing ever moves forward while moaning about life not being fair. Find something good in the situation and move on with life.

5. Timing Trap

Procrastinators anonymous considered the formation of a group but never got around to setting the first meeting. Putting off duties until tomorrow never accomplishes anything. Tomorrow never comes. When you run low on money you can earn more. When you run out of time, you are done. Stop waiting for the perfect time and take constructive action today.

6. Inspiration Trap

Waiting for inspiration becomes a way of putting off starting. An amateur waits for a flash of inspiration to sit down and write whereas a professional starts writing and allow inspiration to flow through them. The flash of an idea never lingers. Writ it down and take action immediately or at least within 24 hours. I keep a notepad on my nightstand and in my exercise room. I keep a tiny tape recorder in my car for those idea flashes when I am unable to safely write.

You can make money and achieve success or you can make excuses. Rarely, if ever, will you make both at the same time.

For more success tips and techniques and words of inspiration, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com. Create the life you love and deserve. Stop procrastinating.