You’ll Never Run Out of Excuses
“We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.” ―Rudyard Kipling
Sometimes, we work like there’s no tomorrow and other times, we leave every work for tomorrow. Funny, right? Perhaps, everyone is guilty of this, even me. Entrepreneurs are often faced with this sort of mixed feelings or whatever you may choose to call it. Maybe it’s because we feel we’re are very much in control of our time, define our activities and aren’t monitored or given deadlines by our “bosses” . Therefore, we need to be self-disciplined, have a great team of individuals who motivate each other via their works — be it hard, smart or a combination of both, which could be translated into timeliness, productivity and commuication. I believe words have little effect on us, as does actions. Little wonder a phone call from your teammate around 2 a.m to notify you of a just-completed task generates all sorts of positive energies in you. If you know you haven’t been giving your best lately, you might as well begin to question yourself there and then, which most times ends well — perhaps.
Complacency is unhealthy
Admittedly, I’m new in business, more like a newly born baby, except that I don’t wear diapers. However, I do know that when it comes to business, you should never feel complacent; you should always want more and be edgy for obvious reasons — change. Why do you think that even at their age and wealth, the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, are still very much active in business? I even feel that they work longer hours than the “average” people . I don’t know about the implications complacency tends to have on people’s personal lives per se, but it surely isn’t good for a business health and well-being because it gives you a sense of satisfaction of which you and I know you can’t afford to have. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reminisce on your accomplishments and reach out for a glass of wine when necessary, but don’t let it get you stuck in the idea that nothing is ever going to change or that you’re never going to get displaced by your competitors, even if it’s a startup. Interestingly, Jochebed Apps, a fintech startup I founded has as its slogan: “It doesn’t end here!”. It’s more of a culture, actually because we believe innovation will never end. That is why we simply say: “We’re passionate about innovation and its relevance to you”. Everyday we wake up wanting more than we got the previous day. Thus, our happiness is often short-lived for all the right reasons, however.
The next best time is now
Excuses are often the products of procrastination and if not resolved quickly, could lead to fear over time. Deep down in your heart, you know it will hunt you somehow, someday. So, If you’re going to start a new business, integrate a new feature in your app or even work at being a better person yourself, just start already! What’s holding you back?
Broadcasting what you’re going to do before actually starting out wouldn’t be nice, because it’s very likely that people — including yourself — will begin to see you in that light, casting a shadow of your would-be self. One of the downsides to this is that the initial motivating factors, which you once had may be long lost and regaining it might be difficult, but not impossible.
Granted, some excuses are justifiable, but not all can be categorized as “reasons”. For example, you might want to integrate a new feature in your app, but after closely considering the importance, value, likely implications, market fit — just to mention a few — you see reasons not to proceed with the integration. That may not be categorized as an excuse, most especially if they’re justifiable. In retrospect, if your reasons are: “it’s too complicated, no one will use it” or “we’ll start next month” or “I don’t have capital; I need funding”, then it might as well fit into the excuse sample space. Here are likely questions you may need to ask yourself:
- If it’s too “complicated”, why don’t I uncomplicate it and make more research on User Interface and User Experience?
- Why would I want to start next month? What happened to starting now, since the idea is still fresh and flooding in?
- I’m I actually starting small? Have I researched the different avenues on how to raise capital for your business? I’m I making good use of my supportive friends?
As pointed out from the onset, excuses lead to procrastination, which in turn could lead to fear. Before long, fear begins to spend the weekends at our homes, hindering us from taking the next bold step towards our goal. It is said that everything you want is on the other side of fear. Therefore, there’s no excuse for failure, only reasons, which prepares you for what lies ahead.
Wouldn’t you like to give me a clap or two? Yeah… There you go! 😉
