Why You Need To Make Excuses
Ten years ago I had a desire to become a certified Project Management Professional.
I realised that to achieve this aspiration; I needed to write the Project Management Professional certification examination, aka PMP.
And to achieve this, there are certain eligibility criteria checklists that I needed to tick off.
Attending a specific number of training hours and computing my project management experience into hours formed part of the major requirements before they can register me with the Project Management Institute.
Someone introduced a training centre in Lagos to me, where I attended the required training.
I settled for the weekend classes because office related work wouldn’t allow me to attend the regular classes.
I concluded the weekend classes in no time and was registered as a member of the Project Management Institute.
The next step is to take the required certification exam.
The training instructor kept following up with me for months to ensure I write the exam and get it over with PMP.
That’s one vital lesson I learnt from him…
As trainers and coaches, please check up on your students as much as you can after taking your classes or buying your courses.
Create a system in your business that offers some sort of followup and support.
It does not have to take so much of your time. It’s more rewarding to your business and the student will feel so valued.
And of course, over the years I have referred a number of students to attend this training centre because someone showed me care and value.
So back to my story, he was following up with me consistently asking questions, encouraging me to take the exams.
Guess what? 10 years later I’ve still not written this exam!
I had the intention to write it, but I never did.
Looking back in retrospect, maybe If I had taken this certification, I would have passed and become a certified PMP holder.
I would have probably been able to take up some opportunities because of this skill.
I would have probably been able to see some opportunities because I have gone through this certification.
I would have probably been able to serve in some capacity because of this certification.
But I didn’t take action on my intention, because I had a lot of reasons called ‘excuses’ for not doing it.
Some of those reasons were actually legitimate in some sense, but the big lesson I got from this is; excuses are actually relative.
It’s a case of; “how badly do I want to get this done?”
If I really wanted to get it done, I would rather make an excuse for getting it done than making an excuse for not getting it done.
The reasons those goals are yet to be achieved is because you’re focusing on other priorities.
The reason you’re not getting ‘A’ done is because you’re focusing on ‘B’
And ‘B’ may not be part of your goals.
So, how about if you just switched it a bit and rather make an excuse for crushing those goals?
If you see yourself still making excuses as regards any of your goals, it’s a sign that those goals are not yet a priority.
Your daily activities reveal what’s of priority to you.
You will inevitably create the required time to achieve what you see as a priority.
Make a slight adjustment, learn to ‘excuse away’ whatever is not part of your goals.
Have an amazing week.
Tope Olufiranye
