This is the season of excuses.
Actually, the season of excuses occurs more frequently than the ones that come to mind more readily: winter, spring, summer or fall. The season of excuses is familiar to every student and every teacher. It would shock and appall those who are funding education, loaning money for it or otherwise have a stake in it.
The season of excuses is certainly the one you most regret when you pay back your student loans.
“I had to miss class because my parents flew into New York and demanded I meet them.”
“I did not turn in any assignments because I did not have Internet.”
“I have added up all the points I missed because I did not attend or complete my assignments and realized I will not graduate. Can you kindly assist me?”
The season of excuses comes within two weeks of the semester ending. I know because I teach courses on the UCLA campus, mostly to young managers who have come from countries all around the world.
Teaching is not the only thing I do. I coach career transitions and I lead personal branding learning programs. I’m also a partner in a number of entrepreneurial ventures.
The difference between teaching and working is never more vast than when it comes to excuse-making. I have never had a client tell me he or she was “out of Internet” for a month, and my clients are all over the world. I have a client in Bali who posts every single day – and a client on an around the world cruise who rarely misses a day.
I’ve never had a client miss weeks of meetings because a loved one flew in and demanded their full and complete attention 24/7.
Never had a client or an employee who missed all the meetings and produced no work product: and then was surprised that so much time had gone by! And suddenly reached out needing my kindness or assistance? Nope. Never happened.
I don’t know if there is a more important lesson in the courses I teach in marketing, business communication and personal branding, than the one that calls the students’ attention to their audiences. The lesson won’t surprise you, if you are thriving in your career or business.
Be prepared to succeed with your audience.
If you are not thriving, than this post is dedicated to your success. Practice doing what you should be doing, when you should be doing it, at the level or quality it should be done.
If you have to, borrow a cup of Internet. Starbucks is giving it away, btw.
Ask your loved ones if they understand that work/life balance means that work is part of the equation.
Show up where you are supposed to be. Turn in what you are supposed to turn in.
And most importantly: stop making excuses, real or imagined. Your teachers, your boss, your clients and your investors all live on the same planet as you. We know what season it is.
