Experts noted that people who fail have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure and have what they believe to be trusted excuses to explain their lack of achievement.
What is Excuse:
Excuse or alibi, according to the Dictionaries, is an explanation given to free one from blame or fault. Some excuses people give are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. However, you cannot use the reasons for financial or any other freedom. There is only one thing that people want to know. Have you achieved success?


Effect of Creating Excuses:
Excuses are the most dangerous killer of success. They rob you of all the qualities needed to achieve anything. Building excuses with which to explain away failure is nothing new to man. It is a habit as old as humanity and is fatal to success.
Why do People Cling to their Pet Excuses?
People use excuses as a defence without even knowing what they are doing because they created them. “A man’s justification is the child of his imagination.” It is human nature to protect one’s brain-child from perceived failure.
Building excuse is a deeply rooted habit, and habits are difficult to break, especially when they justify something we do. Creating excuses is like allowing someone to tie your hands so you cannot do anything.
Plato had this truth in mind when he said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self. To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.”
Another philosopher had the same thought in mind when he said, “It was a great surprise to me when I discovered that most of the ugliness I saw in others was but a reflection of my nature.”
What Are The Commonly Used Excuses
Below is a compiled list by character analyst of 57 most commonly used reasons for failing to achieve. As you read the points, scrutinize yourself, and determine how many of these excuses are your property, if any. Make a note as you go through and make the determination to change.
If I didn’t have a wife and family…
If I had enough “pull”…
If I had money. . .
If I had an excellent education. ..
If I could get a job . ..
If I had good health . ..
If I only had time . ..
If times were better . ..
If other people understood me . ..
If conditions around me were only different,…
If I could live my life over again . ..
If I did not fear what “THEY” would say . ..
If I had a chance . ..
If I now had a chance . ..
If other people didn’t “have it in for me” . ..
If nothing stops me . ..
If I were only younger . ..
If I could only do what I want. ..
If I had been born rich. ..
If I could meet “the right people”. ..
If I had the talent that some people have. ..
If I dared assert myself. ..
If I only had embraced past opportunities.
If people didn’t get on my nerves…
If I didn’t have to keep the house and look after the children…
If I could save some money . ..
If the boss only appreciated me . ..
If I only had somebody to help me . ..
If my family understood me . ..
If I lived in a big city . ..
If I could just get started . ..
If I were only free . ..
If I had the personality of some people . ..
If I were not so fat . ..
If my talents were known . ..
If I could get a “break”. ..
If I could only get out of debt . ..
If I hadn’t failed . ..
If I only knew how . ..
If everybody didn’t oppose me . ..
If I didn’t have so many worries . ..
If I could marry the right person . ..
If people weren’t so dumb . ..
If my family were not so extravagant . ..
If I were sure of myself…
If luck were not against me . ..
If I had not been born under the wrong star . ..
If it were not true that “what is to be will be” . ..
If I did not have to work so hard . ..
If I hadn’t lost my money . ..
If I lived in a different neighborhood . ..
If I didn’t have a “past” …
If I only had a business of my own …
If other people would only listen to me …
If you dared to see yourself as you really are, you would find out what is wrong with you and correct it, then you might profit by your mistakes and learn something from the experience of others, for you know that there is something wrong with you. You would now be where you would have been If you had spent more time analyzing your weaknesses, and less time building excuses to cover them.
These principles of success tip revealed in this article make every one of these excuses obsolete, as shown by Napoleon Hill in his personal development books.
Elbert Hubbard said, “It has always been a mystery to me why people spend so much time deliberately fooling themselves by creating excuses to cover their weaknesses. If used differently, this same time would cure the weakness, then no excuses would be needed.”
Remember that “Life is a checkerboard, and the player opposite you is time. If you hesitate before moving, or neglect to move promptly, your men will be wiped off the board by time. You are playing against a partner who will not tolerate indecision.”
Previously you may have had a logical excuse for not having forced Life to come through with whatever you asked, but that alibi is now obsolete because you own the Master Key that unlocks the door to life’s bountiful riches, says Napoleon Hill.
Benefits of Conquering Excuses:
The Master Key is intangible, but it is also powerful. It is the privilege of creating, in your mind, a burning desire for a definite form of riches. There is no penalty for the use of the Key, but there is a price you must pay if you do not use it. The price is a failure. There is a reward of stupendous proportions if you put the Key to use. It is the satisfaction that comes to all who conquer self and force Life to pay whatever is asked. The reward is worthy of your effort. Will you make a start and be convinced?
7 Steps to Conquer Excuses and Get Results:
You can change adversity into a stepping stone to catapult you to great beautiful things if you don’t receive them as a barrier and use it as an excuse.
- Control your mindset.
- Do not procrastination with or without a cause.
- Avoid indecision.
- Develop a habit of quickly creating a coherent plan for a solution to problems.
- Get rid of doubt in your mind.
- Don’t fake illness to avoid work, events, or responsibilities.
- Maintain a positive mental attitude.
Conquering excuses is a state of mind. Understand now that no excuses will protect you from accepting the responsibility if you fail or refuse to claim health, wealth, and freedom from your life. One thing you can control is your mindset. Therefore, resolve to create a winning mentality that eliminates excuses and builds purpose for achievement.
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