{"id":4506,"date":"2011-10-25T01:16:21","date_gmt":"2011-10-25T08:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bspcn.com\/?p=4506"},"modified":"2011-10-26T01:17:19","modified_gmt":"2011-10-26T08:17:19","slug":"106-excuses-that-prevent-you-from-ever-becoming-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress\/2011\/10\/25\/106-excuses-that-prevent-you-from-ever-becoming-great\/","title":{"rendered":"106 Excuses That Prevent You From Ever Becoming Great"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by chrisbrogan<\/a><\/p>\n

The following is a rare guest post, this time coming from Tommy Walker. Tommy is an online marketing strategist. If your customer\u2019s aren\u2019t absolutely enthusiastic about what you do, chances are you\u2019re boring them to death. He\u2019s the principal at<\/em>Tommy.ismy.name<\/em><\/a> and is currently educating freelancers and entrepreneurs on how to sell in higher paying markets.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"Be honest. How often do you sabotage yourself?<\/p>\n

On any given day, you have tasks you\u2019d like to finish because you know they\u2019d positively impact your business, and tasks you actually do.<\/p>\n

You trick yourself into thinking that keeping up with industry news, and reading the latest \u201c10 tips to ______\u201d post is \u201cworking\u201d.<\/p>\n

You know better, but some part of you believes that simply reading the article will help you move forward.<\/p>\n

That having a deep understanding of all things online marketing will better position you when the time is right. When that time comes, you\u2019ll be the supreme ruler of the internet, because you\u2019re so well studied.<\/p>\n

But that time doesn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n

Something is holding you back, and you can\u2019t quite put your finger on it. So instead of moving past it and taking action, you make an excuse. You justify your reasons for staying put.<\/p>\n

You may have one excuse; you may have several.<\/p>\n

What follows are 106 of the most common excuses you might tell yourself.<\/p>\n

YOU DON\u2019T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE.<\/h4>\n

There\u2019s one word kicks this excuse right in the teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoogle.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t find a ton of free information on Google, find a book on Amazon.If Amazon doesn\u2019t work, hire a coach.<\/p>\n

Information is more accessible now than any other point in history, and most of it is free.<\/p>\n

Spend time to find it.<\/p>\n

Commit to learning it. Be equipped to tackle your challenge.<\/p>\n

YOU CAN\u2019T GET THE EDUCATION REQUIRED.<\/h4>\n

Maybe you don\u2019t have internet, not everyone does (how are you reading this?)<\/p>\n

In any case, there are these buildings with a number of books on a variety of subjects called libraries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll be thrilled to see you, and eager to help.<\/p>\n

If you invest the time, a near college level education awaits you.<\/p>\n

No it\u2019s not as convenient as the internet, but learning anything worthwhile is seldom easy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Also reading books will help to fortify your attention span, which is vital to your success.<\/p>\n

YOU DON\u2019T KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE<\/h4>\n

Like education, people are more accessible than ever before.<\/p>\n

Nearly anyone you need to know can be found on Twitter, Facebook, or Linkedin.<\/p>\n

Be on a mission<\/strong> they can\u2019t resist being a part of, and you\u2019re half way there.<\/p>\n

With a little patience, and an awesome personality, you can connect with the right people.<\/p>\n

It won\u2019t happen overnight, but it certainly will happen if you want it bad enough.<\/p>\n

YOU DON\u2019T HAVE THE MONEY<\/h4>\n

Finances are a sensitive issue.<\/p>\n

You might not have the money right now, but there are plenty of ways to increase your income.<\/p>\n

If you have to scour freelancer sites to aquire a hundred dollars here and there, do it.<\/p>\n

Any money you make freelancing, save it to put towards your dream project.<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t afford to do that?<\/p>\n

Create a strict budget, and set aside a portion of your income.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t believe what the news tells you, money is everywhere, and people spend it every day.<\/p>\n

Right now, someone is hiring someone just like you.<\/p>\n

YOU CAN\u2019T AFFORD TO TAKE A RISK RIGHT NOW.<\/h4>\n

If not now, then when?<\/p>\n

This excuse is fear of the unknown.<\/p>\n

The reality is, you can\u2019t afford not to<\/em> take a risk right now.<\/p>\n

If an idea really benefits people, pulling on the reigns doesn\u2019t just inhibit your progress\u2026it prevents people from improving their lives.<\/p>\n

IT\u2019S TOO HARD.<\/h4>\n

Anything worth doing is hard.<\/p>\n

When was the last time \u201ceasy\u201d had a huge payoff for you?<\/p>\n

YOU DON\u2019T LEARN THAT WAY.<\/h4>\n

Babies all learn the same way, trial and error.<\/p>\n

They try, fail, and try again until it becomes second nature.<\/p>\n

Anyone with an infant learning to stand, walk, or crawl right now will tell you their kid won\u2019t stop, regardless of the number of times they fall on their face.<\/p>\n

Babies don\u2019t get the luxury of learning via webinar, audio, or having the process of written out.<\/p>\n

They see others do it, and try it themselves.<\/p>\n

As a former baby, I can say being receptive to any and all learning will greatly improve your ability to do anything you want.<\/p>\n

SOMEONE ELSE IS ALREADY DOING IT.<\/h4>\n

Which came first, Copyblogger or Problogger? Dyson or Hoover? Groupon or LivingSocial?<\/p>\n

Does it matter?<\/p>\n

Not really.<\/p>\n

YOU DON\u2019T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.<\/h4>\n

The human brain isn\u2019t designed to process information in a linear fashion.<\/p>\n

This is why when you dream, it doesn\u2019t start \u201cat the beginning\u201d and you only remember how the dream ended, but never how it began.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to pick up a new skill, usually \u201cthe beginning\u201d will make itself apparent, regardless of where you start.<\/p>\n

Even better, because the way you process information is unique to you, your \u201cstarting point\u201d could help you form a very unique perspective that people love.<\/p>\n

Also consider the other people who \u201cdon\u2019t know where to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n

By simply picking a place and chronicling your journey, you can inspire others to learn with you.<\/p>\n

YOU\u2019RE AFRAID OF WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL THINK.<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s true, some changes should be gradual.<\/p>\n

But if you a drastic change is what you need, your customers are probably already bored and looking for alternatives.<\/p>\n

Do you think Apple feared their customer\u2019s opinions before entering the Mp3 player market?<\/p>\n

Didn\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n

YOU\u2019RE AFRAID OF WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL SAY.<\/h4>\n

Peer validation is rarely the deciding factor in any entrepreneurial story worth hearing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re concerned with what your industry peers will think, don\u2019t worry about it.<\/p>\n

Sometimes disruption is exactly what your peers need.<\/p>\n

NOBODY WILL BUY.<\/h4>\n

If people will buy the \u201cPet Rock\u201d people will buy what you\u2019re selling.<\/p>\n

You just have to figure out how to position yourself, and why they need you.<\/p>\n

NOBODY WILL CARE.<\/h4>\n

You\u2019re right, nobody will care, IF you\u2019re doing something for the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n

Are you creating a product because you need the cash?<\/p>\n

Nobody will care.<\/p>\n

Are you promoting others simply to make yourself look good.<\/p>\n

Nobody will care.<\/p>\n

Are you sucking up to big names so they will promote your stuff?<\/p>\n

Nobody will care.<\/p>\n

Authenticity can\u2019t be faked, and selfish motivations can be sniffed out from a mile away.<\/p>\n

Be on a mission to make an impact.<\/p>\n

Somebody will care, because they share your mission.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s up to you to find them.<\/p>\n

BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.<\/h4>\n

Imagine waking up tomorrow on the verge of death.<\/p>\n

All your life you played it safe.<\/p>\n

You stayed at your job, and did what you were told.<\/p>\n

Sure you got promotions, but at your peak you still only made $60,000.<\/p>\n

You had ideas, and watched them came to fruition\u2026 at the hands of someone else.<\/p>\n

They created memorable products; you\u2019re on your deathbed with nothing to show.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re unsure how you\u2019ll pay for your funeral. You\u2019re leaving behind a mound of debt, and you never figured out how to just get ahead.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>Feel sorry yet?<\/p>\n

THERE\u2019S NO POLITICALLY CORRECT WAY TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION.<\/h4>\n

Realistically, that\u2019s ok.<\/p>\n

If people like Naomi Dunford<\/a> and Johnny Truant<\/a> are allowed to play, so can you.<\/p>\n

Politically correctness isn\u2019t always the most effective form of communication.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the non PC person is exactly the breath of fresh air the world needs.<\/p>\n

PEOPLE AREN\u2019T READY TO HEAR THIS.<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s true, not everyone is ready to hear everything.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019ve thought it, chances are you are not alone.<\/p>\n

If you believe in it enough, one person at a time, you can build a following.<\/p>\n

Truthfully, it\u2019s usually the things people aren\u2019t ready for that make the biggest impact on the world.<\/p>\n

YOU CAN\u2019T QUESTION THE AUTHORITY.<\/h4>\n

Nations were founded on questioning the authority.<\/p>\n

Countless Rock stars, celebrities, and political leaders made their mark by disrupting the establishment.<\/p>\n

If you start a business to free yourself, then dare not oppose the \u201cpowers that be\u201d, you undermine the very spirit of entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

Question the authority! Break the rules!<\/p>\n

Just make sure you have evidence to support your cliams, otherwise you\u2019re just being a punk, and not in the cool way.<\/p>\n

YOU HAVEN\u2019T DONE IT BEFORE.<\/h4>\n

This is my favorite excuse, because it\u2019s such a cop out.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at some of the common milestones in your life that you got through just fine<\/p>\n