You can either make excuses or you can make success happen.
- Running late because of a flat tire? Blame the tire.
- Running late because your ride is late? Blame the ride.
- Can’t get a hold of who you’re meeting? Blame them for not being available.
Or not.
Instead, own the circumstances and charge ahead. Make. It. Happen.
This morning I got a flat tire on the way to an 8:15 am appointment. It was 8:05.
I could call my wife, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her with getting three kids ready on short notice and have her take on any anxiety because of my time crunch. So I called an Uber.
- 5 minutes until arrival.
- 3 minutes.
- 1 minute.
I looked up and saw his Toyota Corolla. But it didn’t stop. I looked on the app. Now a 5 minute ETA, again? He was still driving… in the wrong direction. I messaged him what shop I was in front of. He replied. In a way, I think? By canceling the ride.
Great. Now it’s 8:15, my meeting time, and I still don’t have a ride. I called the office where I was heading to let them know I’d be late. No answer. Their lines didn’t open up until 8:30. I had a pre-business hours appointment.
In times like this I don’t get frustrated. What good would it do? The only reasonable option is to find a solution. Literally, what benefit is there to any other option other than finding a solution?
Grabbed the next Uber, got there just 10 minutes late. Knocked out a few quick tasks while I didn’t have to be the driver. Bonus.
They were late, too, and didn’t even notice. Started “right on time,” calm and collected, because I didn’t get stressed. Killed it.
- Blame the flat tire.
- Blame the missed ride.
- Blame luck.
- Blame Monday.
Or don’t.
No one but you cares what your excuses are. So don’t make them and instead make success happen.
