I’ll never forget the day I took my kids “into town” to pick up some roller blades for them. There was a store going out of business, having great sales and my kids were about 2, 4, and 6 at the time. (Found this picture, which shows Shelbey and CJ at ABOUT that age… missing their oldest partner in crime.)
Anyway, we’re all in the store and Shelbey (that sweet angelic looking creature to the left) was not happy about being there. So, when I try to size her foot for the roller blades, she loudly proclaims her disgust with me with a blatant, “DAMN!”
Oh how I wish I was making this up. I can still feel the utter humiliation pulse through my body as all eyes turned towards me. I gathered any remaining dignity I could find, straightened my back, corralled my kids, and silently walked out of the store.
When we got to the car, I asked her where she learned to talk like that. (Of course, I knew the answer. That was – at the time – my go to word of choice in “those” situations!) But, she – perhaps not wanting to make the situation worse – chose to blame a more acceptable scapegoat: Uncle Scotty. My brother. My own long-time partner in crime.
Now, I knew this wasn’t the case. She had heard ME talk like that. She was walking out what I was modeling. BUT, when asked for someone to blame – an EXCUSE – she chose the one she thought was MOST acceptable.
The truth is – in business and in life – that if ONE excuse will do, any excuse will do. Some prefer a great excuse to incredible achievement. And let’s face it: Excuses are easy…. creative, even. Achievement – in any endeavor worth pursuing – is challenging, on-going, and sometimes flat out exhausting.
My point today ins’t to out my daughter as a potty mouth. =) Or relate more to the moms of those hellions I’ve seen in other stores being defiant, rude and over the top ridiculous. Nope. My goal is to challenge you to look into your own life and business…. and challenge yourself to find any excuses getting in the way of YOUR achievement.
What excuses have you been giving?
More importantly, which excuses have you been believing?
I was wondering where this was heading — I love a good plot twist!! 🙂
Great point about excuses, Michelle. I find that there are so many subtle excuses that seem so benign, but they “nickel and dime” you to death. I sometimes give my clients an assignment of making a tick mark on a sheet of paper for one whole day, for every time they either make an excuse or even want to make an excuse. It’s always a wake-up call to see that you can so quickly blame other people and even the weather, inanimate objects, pets, the past or the future… oy, it’s like a magnet!
Thanks for your post — it’s so important to raise the awareness on these sneaky little habits that have BIG consequences!
Martha
P.S. Did you ever get roller blades???
I knew that question would come up…. I’m SO ashamed to say that the deal was SO good, I humbled myself and walked back in that store. Picked up my roller blades, paid and left. I turned around and said, “She doesn’t know I’m buying these.” =)
Oh, the lessons we learn from our children. : ) I’m now learning from the NEXT generation. I’ve been around a 2 yr old for several days who models EVERYTHING she sees. I’ve been really pondering the power of modeling.
Always enjoy your stories and the lessons found in them.Looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta!