Just last week I was talking about daffodils blooming and the early signs of Spring. Today, local ski fields opened to a fresh 51 centimetres of snow, just from the last 48 hours, and more has been forecast for the weekend ahead.
Full disclosure, I briefly considered a pass on this week's letter, but my conscience got the better of me. There is little doubt skiers and snow boarders will be feeling the pull of the mountain today, or perhaps the sudden, unexpected onset of a cold.
Have you ever fudged an excuse for taking a day off work, or school, or getting out of a social or family obligation? Right, right. Okay, me either.
But what about other times, when the excuse— or reason, justification, rationale, grounds or case to be made— is with yourself? I'm thinking about the big themes in your life, like what you really want or what you're capable of, and the reasons you tell yourself it can't happen, or why it can't happen now.
They need someone with more experience. I'm waiting until the kids are grown. I would need to go back to school for that. I would if I had someone to do it with. I don't have the right team. Management doesn't understand. No one will read it. It's not important. No one will want to hire me. That's not my style. I don't have time. It's too late. I'm too old. There is always next year.
What excuse are you leaning on the most? What would happen if we dug into that a little, what might you learn or discover?
It's possible you have shared your reasons out loud, with friends or a spouse or a co-worker, seeking feedback or confirmation. And good for you, saying things out loud can be a helpful step.
What I'm offering you is different.
As your coach, I bring no judgement to the conversation, or preconceived ideas about what you should do. Even if your rationale rings a little hollow —sure, I understand eating that entire tub of ice cream so you wouldn't be tempted by it tomorrow— it's not for me say if your reasoning is weak or strong.
How I can help is going a little deeper inside those reasons, and making sure they are rooted in facts and information, not just feelings and suppositions. A little inside scoop: sometimes it's a combination.
Whatever the case, it's good information to have so you can move forward with confidence in your decisions, and clarity about what you're actually trying to achieve.
So what do you say, ready to get started? I am if you are. No excuses.