Excuses Look Back. Vision Looks Ahead.

On my journey to becoming an Alpha in the late 90s, I learned a quote that has shaped me ever since:

“Excuses are tools of incompetence used to build bridges that lead to nowhere and monuments of nothingness, and those who succeed in them seldom succeed in anything else in life...”

That quote has stuck with me for years because it forces me to think differently. Instead of hiding behind an excuse, I look for a way forward. Even when I’m not entirely responsible, I’ll own my part because ownership creates the space to find solutions that move us ahead.

Too often, I see people stop at the excuse. They explain why something wasn’t done, why it couldn’t be done, or why it was someone else’s problem. Rarely do they pivot to, “Here’s how we fix it.” Reflection matters, but the bigger question is always: What’s next? How do we make it better? How do we move forward? It's a mindset I try to use in both business and personal relationships.

Just last week, I came across an article about Marco St. Croix launching road striping services. I don’t know the owner, Shawn Baptiste, personally, but he’s an example of someone who sees a backlog, sees an opportunity, and builds a solution. No excuses. Just action. This isn't his first time, and I'm sure it won't be his last.

So how do we build a community where more people choose solutions over excuses? We start by shining a light on innovators who saw a need and filled the gap. And we start by practicing it ourselves, especially when things get tough.

The next time someone points the finger your way, don’t get stuck defending or dismissing. Own your part, then shift the conversation to solutions. That’s how we stop building monuments of nothing and start building monuments of progress.

Every step forward matters. What’s your step? #BuildProgress