Excuses are those stories we tell ourselves and repeat to others in order to justify our own lack of performance. I understand and am fully aware that bad things happen to good people. Current conditions and factors often get in the way of our plans; however, for every person experiencing an obstacle that uses it as an excuse to justify their failure, I will show you another person facing the same obstacle who has used it as a springboard to even greater success.

Excuses don’t matter until we embrace them and make them a part of our internal story and the story we share with others.

In over a decade of writing this weekly column for hundreds of newspapers, magazines, and online publications around the world, on rare occasions I take the opportunity to suggest you consider investing your time, effort, and money in a book. My friend, colleague, and past president of the National Speakers Association, Sam Silverstein, has just completed a groundbreaking new book entitled No More Excuses! (www.NoMoreExcuses.me).

In his book, Sam gives us all the five accountabilities.

1. Do the right things consistently—understand what activities will lead you to fulfill your strategic intent and do those “right things” consistently.
   
2. Manage your space—sometimes we have to let go of what has worked in the past to have the space or room to try new things, manufacture new products, or build the new relationships that will move us forward in the future.
   
3. Manage the process—learn to be accountable to achieve your strategic intent even when faced with challenges and less than desirable results.
   
4. Establish the right expectations—setting expectations too low means underachieving, and setting them too high leads to bad choices. The right expectations deliver optimal results.
   
5. Contribute to your relationships—by looking to give to our relationships we build the network and connections that will allow us to achieve our goals. We give to help others and many times personal gain naturally follows.

Becoming accountable to ourselves and those around us eliminates a culture or environment of excuses. Excuses are nothing, more or less, than a challenge or an opportunity that has not yet been fulfilled.

The next time you find yourself getting ready to make an excuse or accept an excuse, instead look for the opportunity. In the process of overcoming that challenge, you will likely find the seed of a greater success.

As you go through your day today, resolve to become accountable, overcome obstacles, and accept no more excuses.

Today’s the day!