“No SIR, that is not an excuse, SIR.” The Marine looked straight ahead, his face turning red. His superior was not pleased with the fact that he had offered an excuse for being late. As his teacher, I thought the excuse was plausible. He’d hurt his ankle on his fifteen mile, 5:00 a.m. run, and had to go to the infirmary to get it wrapped. However, he was late to class, and his superior was reinforcing their commitment to a “no excuses” mentality.
This occurred the summer that I taught a group of Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego California, after graduating from college. The teaching position was to help those Marines that needed their GED to stay in the Corps. I’m not sure they do this anymore, but at the time I told most of the guys had been given a choice of jail or boot camp, and I think some of those guys temporarily wished they had chosen jail for the first few months. These were the troubled kids that were used to mouthing off, and now they couldn’t even claim a sprained ankle as an excluse for being late. By the end if that summer, however, these trouble makers were proud of themselves, and most told me that they were doing things they never thought possible. They transitioned from boys to men in just a few short months, and I think “no excuses” had something to do with it.
Their commitment changed my behavior as well. The time I was late to class because I rode a one-speed bicycle each day for several miles (and over significant hills) provided my first chance to exhibit my no excuses commitment. After blowing a tire on the last hill and having to push my bike the last half-mile. I’m sure they wished I would shower or something, but I walked straight to the front of the class with my hair sopping wet. I stood in front of them and said “I’m late, and I offer no excuses. I won’t be late again.” And I wasn’t, because I left earlier and padded my time in case another tire blew. Better yet, I arranged for a truck full of Marines that passed me every morning (and grunted their encouragement as I went up the hills on my one-speed) to pick me up at the half-way point. They’d load me and my bike on the bike of their truck and I’d make it to class in plenty of time.
We make excuses when we:
- Have messed up and want to place responsibility somewhere else
- Are afraid to try
- Don’t really want to do something in the first place
Just listen to these definitions for the word excuse:
- a reason or explanation, not necessarily true, given in order to make something appear more acceptable or less offensive
- a false reason that enables somebody to do something he or she wants to do or avoid something he or she does not want to do
- an inept performer of a particular action or task
I believe that a huge element of improving and changing your life begins with a rule of no excuses. Take responsibility for where you are, for where you want to go, and for getting there. Many of you have seen the video below, but watch it again. Here’s a guy who, like the Marines I encountered, accepts no excuses for doing what he wants to do.
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No excuses leads to courageous lives like the one you’re about to watch. Let’s all take one step closer to having this kind courage to change by offering no excuses for one week!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbEKUeMnibw[/youtube]
6 comments. Leave new
Donna,
This post is exceptional. Apart from the fact that it resonates so strongly with me – it exemplifies the “no excuses” mindset.
Keep telling the truth through stories like this Donna – It really makes a difference.
Dan
Dan:
Thank you for the feedback and the encouragement. Stories require a certain type of audience – and as I find my way I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support!
Donna
Donna
Life brings all of us different challanges that sometimes bring major difficulties that we must fight through internally in order to take the next step forward to survive. Thanks for sharing this story as a living example of a person fighting to take that next step and overcoming adversity.
Lee
Lee:
Thank you for your comment. In my opinion, there is nothing more amazing on earth than the human spirit. Our only sin is in underestimating it.
Donna
Thanks Donna — the video puts it all in perspective, doesn’t it! My 17 year old daughter just returned from Guatemala where she was working with kids who scavage out of the city dump for food and small items to sell. She came back a changed woman! One of her biggest surprises was that the kids could laugh and play even living in these conditions. Thanks again for the reminder to be “thankful in all things.”
Good morning Donna,
Great story about excuses and what causes or prompts us to make them. Another point to consider which is often omitted is what is their affect. The “No Excuse” tenet adhered to by Marine DI’s, and other military instuctors/trainers is because excuses don’t fly in combat. One either does or doesn’t do what the situation requires. If not, the outcome could be injury, or worse, to the individual or members of their team. Even in our civilian lives we should require “no excuses” as well as the necessary performance of ourselves, and others for whom we are responsible. Letting a situation go by not making an excuse is only part of the process.
Hope you have a wonderful day,
Myles