“It is not only what we do,
but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”
~ Moliere
It took me some time to get this through my head. It took me an even longer time to implement it into my everyday life. I believe it will be of great benefit to you, if it is put into play. Read this article and immediately put this into practice.
My brief story:
Lost in fog. 
Wanted Mommy and everyone else to get me out.
Wanted my friends to lead me.
Decided to get out on my own.
Got out and never got lost in fog again.
Mommy was very proud of me.
My friends ask how I did it.
And, they lived happily ever after.
The End
That is a true story. My name hasn’t been changed to protect the guilty. I’m not in hiding. Actually, I want to shout it at the top of my lungs.
This is what I would shout,
“Quit whining and be accountable for yourself, for your actions, and for your life from this point on! If you don’t want it bad enough for yourself, nobody is going to want it for you either! Quit with the little baby excuses. Grow up! Quit talking a good show, and back it up with some action.”
Someone should have said that to me a long time ago. But, they would have been wasting their breath. I wasn’t ready. I was still content on making excuses and blaming everyone else. I wanted someone to hand over the keys to the ‘good life’ and let me drive away.
I didn’t really want it, though. If I really wanted it, I wouldn’t have quit. I wouldn’t have expected others to get me there. I would have proved by my actions that I was ‘for real’.
I would have crawled on my hands and knees to get out of that fog.
My concern now is that you aren’t ready. If you’re not. This won’t help. This will only help if YOU are ready. Your friends may be ready for you to make it. Your mom (or dad) might be ready for you to make it. But the only thing that matters is that you are ready.
Make the choice today that nothing will hold you back. Make a choice that you will not count on anyone else for getting you out of the fog. Decide that by pure persistence you will come out of the fog. And, if you do that friend. It will be with a smile.
Live it LOUD!
Hi Rob,
A good way to count in yourself is (only for a while) thinking that no-one will be able to help you, that this struggle you are facing is only yours for the taking. Of course, you can only do this if you are strong enough to bear it, but if you are just a little short it will make you stronger. It is like in weightlifting, you need to push your limits just a little to avoid injuries, but if you don’t you don’t improve.
Cheers,
Ruben
Hey Ruben,
Great points. In the end it really does come down to us. We must decide if we are worth that extra effort that will see our goals through. Most will quit when victory is just ahead. I was stoked when I finally hit 300 on the bench. Strategy and persistency won the day.
Live it LOUD!
Hi Rob,
Take responsibility for our actions and life is crucial. We have to stop blaming others if we really want to acquire prosperity. We have to take action and persist to achieve what we want in life. Thanks for sharing Rob, great read!
Thanks Brother,
That really is the biggest lesson I have learned. No one can want it for you. Excuses won’t cut it, so get out there and get it!
Live it LOUD!
So very true, Rob. We must radically rely on ourselves; no one can do it for us. It’s our choice, whether we are a destroyer or builder of our life. We are the cause of the effects that we experience in life. Choose to be a builder, and rely on yourself to fulfill on this choice. … we must Never give up on ourselves! Never, never, never, never, never!
Hey Rob!
Did you see me get up and start cheering! Excellent way to paraphrase Churchill’s greatest speech.
@’Destroyer or buider’. That is spot on. We can do either, and it is OUR choice alone. The thing is most folks will live with whatever you decide. If you decide to be a leader, they will follow. If you decide to be a follower, they will lead. That decision permeates every fiber of our being, good or bad.
The great thing is WE decide.
Live it LOUD!
Hi Rob!
Love this post. My thought process is very similar to this post. I have very little sympathy for complainers and excueses. One of my mottos are. If you want it go get it. I try to live my life by this. Sometime I do get caught up in my own complaints and excuses, but I quickly transition out of that.
And your right, if people don’t see the sense of urgency in your actions then they won’t care if you do or don’t accomplish your spoken goals. I agree, make your spoken goals a reality.
Great post!
Hey Chelsea,
And here I thought I was the only one. I knew there was someone, somewhere who thought similarly to me. Hello, I’ve been waiting…just kidding.
This blog, in part, was created for the complaining excuse makers. But, only those who are ready to put that behind, and utilize the tools for a better today.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Live it LOUD!
Rob
I absolutely agree here. I choose to live int he BE, DO HAVE methodology.
I believe that to live the lifestyle that you want or to have the things that you desire in life you first have the BE the leader that you have to be and DO all of the work that is required of you so that you can then HAVE what it is that you desire, whether it is a lifestyle or something else.
Many people of ten say “only if I had more money or only f my circumstances were different then I could be the leader that would earn me the lifestyle.
That is absolutely the wrong approach. You must do the things that need to be done first and be that leader that others seek so that you can later reap your rewards.
You get it my friend!
You Do To Hector!
Sorry I’m late in replying, the last one must have gotten lost 🙂
That is why there is so much room at the top. So many are willing to stay in the fog.
Live it LOUD!
There’s a few things I want to do. It’ll cost about $33 Million- assuming the dollar doesn’t lose further value. Heck yeah, a Ferrari is on that list. But it’s not all about me. [laughing] And I have some strong ideas how to get there.
What do you want to do? Got a list? How will you get there?
Hey Stan,
Speak your mind baby!
Before I set out teaching someone to fish, I better know a bit about it myself first.
Preparation is a key, but nothing takes the place of persistent action. There is plenty of room at the top because most stay in the planning stage.
TODAY HAS POWER, but only if we want it to.
Live it LOUD!
Hey Rob,
It’s amazing how much better life is when we take responsibility for our own actions. I remember how much time and energy I used to spend blaming other people or making excuses…Way too much!
Plus, when we’re responsible we have the power to do something about a situation if we don’t like it.
(Love your poem.)
Katie
Hey Katie!
Spoken (written) like a true champ. Even champs get a few bruises along the way. But, what separates them is that they keep getting up.
I’ve blamed everyone and everything (even the kitchen sink) at one time or another. I’m still recovering:)
What a beautiful thing it is!
Live it LOUD!
Wow. Very much enjoyed this post Rob. How important this has been for me to figure out (and continue figuring out) in my life. The time is NOW and I need to hold accountability for my own life. The times when I’m relying on others too much, making excuses and being lazy – is when I’m the least happy!
Hey Brother,
It’s wonderful that you got it. It’s taken me many years. But, better late than never. TODAY HAS POWER!!
I linked to you as a fav a couple months ago because you’re the real deal.
Keep inspiring.
Live it LOUD!
Thank you for the kind compliment. I think much the same of you. That’s why I keep coming back! 🙂
Hey Christian,
The love is spreading Brother. Let’s keep it going!
Live it LOUD!
Hi Rob,
I loved your post. I’ve really struggled with doing things on my own. It took me a long time to stop making excuses and start moving forward. I still often depend on others, but I’m starting to recognize my strengths and taking action on my own. I do have a team I work with, but I am making decisions and initiating action, and I would’ve never done that in the past.
Thanks for the inspiration
Stacey
Hey Stacey,
That’s fantastic! So in other words, you have a chance to pour what you’ve learned into other lives? Speak it, people will listen.
It’s amazing how little steps forward can lead to bigger and bigger steps (and accomplishments).
That’s the way it worked for me…baby steps. I momentum stacked my way up.
I appreciate you.
Live it LOUD!
Rob,
Complaining doesn’t do much for me but waste precious time and I need every second I have to do something productive. This was a great and very inspirational post to force me to stop whinning and start working.
Amen Frank,
Hey, it’s a good way to let ourselves in on the little secret…we’re serious!
It really doesn’t matter what others think. But, what we think and do, makes ALL the difference.
Thanks Frank, and cool new pic.
Live it LOUD!
Here’s for the guy who found his way out of the fog. I’m that same guy. Great blog post. Now that we are out of the fog we are able to see more clearly. Now that we are out of the fog we get to stop crawling and start walking. Perhaps even run 🙂
Dude!
Was that you holding the flashlight:)
Yeah Brother, life is different on this side. I like walking and running a whole lot more than crawling.
Learning took me a bit of time, but consider me learned!
Thanks for stopping.
Live it LOUD!
Does it seem like on this side there is no other way but to live it LOUD?
I wish I new where the flash-light was, I believe you may have found it before I did 🙂
Hey Tony,
My flashlight gives plenty of light for the both of us:) We can take turns.
Live it LOUD!
I’ll bring the backup charger 🙂 Live it LOUD!
Now we’re talking.
Rob, formerly known as Live it LOUD!
Tremendous Post Rob. I also count too much on others and should count on myself. At some point in life I will have to be independant, we all have too. Just trust yourself.
Hey Fazal,
Good points. I would mention that it’s easier to trust yourself when one becomes trustworthy.
If you aren’t now, that’s okay. Take small steps and then momentum stack. This process will begin a stirring that cannot be settled. One of the by-products will be self-trust.
Live it LOUD!
you are right Rob, i took the decision to solve a tough problem i am facing and i wont let something/someone stop me, thank you 🙂
Hey Farouk,
Most of the answers we are seeking are closer than we think!
Live it LOUD!