If It’s Important, You’ll Find a Way

Do you have something on your list that just never gets done? What about a project or an idea that you’ve “always wanted to do” for years? A habit you’ve been “meaning to work on?”

We want to reach our goals. We know we should take care of our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and our businesses.

So why do some things always get done while other things never even get started? How can we motivate ourselves to accomplish what we want to accomplish?

The answer to both of these questions:

“If it’s important, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.”

This statement really sums it up! It’s one of my all-time favorites. I say this so much, I should probably have it tattooed on me!

Excuses Are Easy to Find

Let me know if any of these sound familiar:

• “There’s never enough time for prospecting.”
• “I’m terrible at remembering names.”
• “I can’t find the time to read.”
• “I meant to send a gift, but I was too busy.”
• “I never have time for exercise.”
• “I just haven’t done it yet.”

We constantly tell ourselves these lame excuses! What these lame excuses are really saying is, “That’s not really important to me right now.”

Once you translate your excuses into the truth, there are two ways you might react.

On one hand, that to-do item isn’t actually that important to you right now. That’s OK to admit! You might have a goal you’d like to tackle someday, but it’s truly not the right time—or other things are simply more important. There’s no need to beat yourself up, worry, and make excuses about something that’s not really a priority for you.

On the other hand, you might realize you’re making lame excuses about something that really is important to you. You’re comfortable saying, “I’m terrible at remembering names,” but are you comfortable telling people, “Remembering names isn’t important to me?”

Time to Find a Way

“Dew,” you say, “I’m done making lame excuses. Prospecting, reading, remembering names, and exercise really are important to me!”

Well, if it’s important, you’ll find a way.

Once you admit you’ve been creating excuses and decide to commit to what you think is important, you will find the time.

Don’t get me wrong—it takes work. You can’t decide that running a marathon is important to you, then show up on race day after spending the entire year on the couch. But, when we know our priorities, it becomes much easier to find time, make plans, and put in the work to achieve our goals. Affirming what’s truly important keeps your head in the game.

If that marathon really is important to you, you’ll find the time to put together a training plan, wake up early, and get in those miles. If all you find is excuses, then running that marathon’s not really important to you, is it?

If it’s important, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.

Decide What’s Non-negotiable, and Commit.

So why do I love this motto so much? Not only does it show us what we need to commit to, it helps us stay committed.

When I realize I’m making excuses to not prospect (I’m busy, I’m tired, I’ll do it tomorrow, etc.), I remind myself: If it’s important, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.

If I’m making excuses to not prospect, I’m saying that prospecting isn’t important to me. I’m saying growing my business isn’t important to me. And that’s NOT true! It IS important, so I WILL find a way to make it happen!

The things that are really important to us become our non-negotiables. For these things, excuses are simply not an option. Once excuses are off the table, you’ll be amazed by the creative ways you’ll find to keep non-negotiables a priority. When we commit to what’s important, it’s incredible what we can accomplish.

One more time: If it’s important, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.

Done With Excuses?

We all have plenty of stuff we really want to do—and plenty of stuff we know we should do. We also have more self-discipline than we think!

Until next time—go sell some stuff!