No More Excuses

I hate tough love. I hate it because tough love calls me on my shit and forces me to pay attention to the voice that's been nagging me for months, telling me what I need to change.

However, tough love is one of the best kinds of love. Tough love comes a place of caring and hope. It is the result of a friend or family member having the guts to tell us what we need to change. It is the result of someone close to us hoping we realize the goals we've set for ourselves.

I hate tough love, but I need it too.

Over the past few weeks I've had this post rolling around in my head. I asked myself,

Can I write this post?

Can I say what I believe needs to be said?

As with any post that's been on my mind for any amount of time, this one needs to be said as well.

You have no more excuses. None.

And, neither do I.

You and I have no reason to not pursue what we want to pursue. We have no reason to not see our dreams turned into reality.

The limitations we had yesterday are no longer holding us back. Obstacles, like access to fans, or the resources to make it happen, are no longer in our way.

If Harry Potter was first brought to life on a coffee shop napkin, surely you and I can create our stories with our keyboards.

The Musician

Take this video of pianist Paul Cardall playing “Scarborough Fair” as an example. If you were a musician, you could recreate this and record it with your phone or the gear I reviewed here.

You don't need a $30,000 Steinway piano.

You don't need an abandoned warehouse.

You just need to remove the excuses and make music people want to hear.

The Writer

Take this book by my friend and writer Jimmy Burgess. If you're a writer, you can self-publish every book and build a speaking and teaching brand from your laptop.

You don't need to wait for a million dollar publishing deal.

You don't need to for someone to tell you it's your time.

All you need is the will to write, the guts to put yourself out there, and the ability to upload your book to Amazon. And, you can do that last part, for free, at any library in the world.

The Photographers

Want to start a photography business?

David and Allie made thousands on their first day. However, they worked for free for 6 months and built a brand focused on adding value to a growing a community. I interviewed them about their journey on my show, listen here.

The Kids

Want to write or record music?

Check out this group of talented young students who covered a song from a 90s rock band, recorded it, and put it on the internet. Over 7 million people have enjoyed their video.

The Teacher

Interested in teaching science and making it fun?

Leslie Samuel uploads instructional videos to his YouTube channel which has over 70,000 subscribers. Leslie has removed, or ignored, the excuses and shared science to the tune of over 7 million views on his videos.

Every week I meet someone who has an incredible idea. They have a message that could make an impact on the world, if they'd just share it.

You can change the world too!

Paul Cardall did it, and he was born with a congenital heart disease. Jimmy Burgess did it, and he didn't have a publishing company backing him. David Sherry and Allie Lehman did it, and they started from scratch.

The Difference

Really, the only difference between the people who make it and the people who don't are the actions taken. The people who make it and achieve their goals are the ones who ignore the excuses and do it anyway.

I have no more excuses for not sharing my message with the world.

And, neither do you!

No more excuses.