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40 Excuses Entrepreneurs Must Overcome To Succeed In Business

June 17, 2013 By Sydney 16 Comments

Entrepreneurship is hard. No question about it. Anyone who says it’s easy is either lying, suffering from amnesia, or has never actually tried to start and grow their own business before. One of the hardest parts about becoming an entrepreneur is simply just getting started. It’s scary taking chances, making yourself vulnerable for failure, and starting an untemplate lifestyle, but that’s also what makes it so incredibly rewarding and worthwhile.

So why is so hard to start? Because as humans, even though it’s not in our best interest, we love to make excuses. It’s so much easier to shift blame onto someone or something else and stay passive versus taking action and ownership of our lives and the directions we take. As Untemplaters, you should already know that shattering the template lifestyle isn’t easy and making excuses won’t get you far. But nobody is perfect and we all have days when we succumb to doubt, fear, anxiety, and inaction that we try to validate with excuses.

We get into trouble when we have too many of these days in a row and can’t snap out of our funk. Here are 40 excuses entrepreneurs must overcome to succeed in business. Instructions: Count how many times you’ve made each of these excuses in the last two weeks and then check your score below.

Excuses, Excuses – Now Take The Quiz!

Instructions: Count how many times you’ve made each of these excuses in the last two weeks and then check your score below.

  1. I’m too tired.
  2. I’m not smart enough.
  3. I don’t know how to start.
  4. There’s too much competition already.
  5. I’m too young to be taken seriously.
  6. I’m too old to start something new.
  7. I don’t have enough money.
  8. I’ll wait until the weather changes.
  9. It’s just too hard.
  10. I don’t want to fail.
  11. I’m scared of change.
  12. I don’t know where to begin.
  13. I don’t have the right experience.
  14. I’m already stressed out.
  15. I don’t have the right skills.
  16. I don’t think I can do it.
  17. I don’t have enough time.
  18. I’ll start after I get in shape.
  19. My expenses are too high already.
  20. I won’t get approved for any loans.
  21. I can’t come up with any good ideas.
  22. I’m uncomfortable taking risks.
  23. The industry is too slow.
  24. I’ll start after I do xyz.
  25. I can’t start if the economy is bad.
  26. I have to get caught up before I can begin.
  27. I don’t know anyone who can help me.
  28. I won’t have any support.
  29. I already failed before.
  30. I need a perfect plan before I can start.
  31. My family will think I’m crazy.
  32. I don’t want to give up spending time with friends.
  33. I don’t want to make sacrifices.
  34. People won’t like me.
  35. I don’t have any resources.
  36. It will never work.
  37. I can’t do it by myself.
  38. My bf/gf/spouse doubts me.
  39. I don’t have enough knowledge.
  40. I’ll never succeed.

Scoring

0-5 Top of the class: Congrats on being in the top of your class! You’re a go-getter who thinks positively and has high self-confidence. Even the most hard working entrepreneurs have doubts from time to time, but you know the importance of keeping them to a minimum. You maximize your time and rebound quickly when you run into obstacles. Nice work, keep it up!

6-10 Borderline: You’re on the right track, and it’s time to grunt and keep pushing forward so you don’t get into trouble. You’re teetering right on the edge of rising to the top and sliding down a slippery slope, so it’s vital you work on your self esteem and take more responsibility for your own actions. Focus on the excuses you’ve made the most often and figure out what you need to do in order to overcome them quickly. Time is of the essence!

11-15 In trouble: If entrepreneurship is something you really want, it’s time to give yourself a mental makeover. Right now you don’t have enough drive, confidence, or initiative to get yourself off the ground. Recognizing that your potential for success is currently compromised is the first step to finding solutions that will help you rise above your lethargy and fears. Put together an action plan, work on your consistency and execution, and focus on the positives!

16+ Time for a kick in the pants: It’s time to whip yourself into shape if you truly are serious about having a chance to achieve your entrepreneurial dreams. Your current attitude has you headed for failure before you’ve even started. Don’t get stuck on an endless uphill battle. Stop making things so much harder for yourself and change your mindset. You’re making too many excuses all the time. Everyone has the power to control their own destiny and you too can get out of your funk and push yourself to the next level. Tap into your fighting spirit and rise to the occasion!

Overcome Fear, Doubt, And Take Control

You’ll notice the majority of the 40 excuses entrepreneurs must overcome to succeed in business are centered around fear and doubt. Nothing in life is certain, especially in the lives of entrepreneurs, so it’s completely natural to have anxieties. But letting those fears and doubts consume your life and drown out your motivation will prevent you from performing your best and will hold you back. Take control of your thoughts, do your due diligence, get organized, stop complaining, start thinking positively, execute, and follow through!

Untemplaters, how did you score on the 40 excuses entrepreneurs most overcome quiz? What are some of the excuses, fears, and doubts that you struggle with the most? Which ones have you been able to overcome?

 

Updated 2016. Original content and photography authorized only to appear on Untemplater.com. Thank you for reading!

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Filed Under: Entrepreneurship

About Sydney

Hi there, I’m Sydney! After ten crazy years, I left a grueling six-figure job in 2015 for a better life. Now I spend my days with my family, writing, freelancing in various capacities, and finding new ways to stretch my brain. I’m crazy about my husband and two kids, gardening, photography, hiking, and stopping to smell the roses. Untemplater is where I share my insights and adventures with the world. I'm continually motivated to write and evolve in hopes that I can help others improve their lifestyles, careers, wealth and happiness. Every day is a gift! Be sure to check out my how to start a blog and Untemplater recommendations pages. You can also sign up here to get email alerts every time I write a new post. Thanks for reading!

Comments

  1. Mustard Seed Money says

    October 10, 2016 at 7:05 am

    I was borderline and atleast they aren’t blind spots for me. I think writing down my goals and creating a bridge on how to reach them has assisted me in the journey. Without goals, personally, I am aimless and seem to jump around. When I am able to set goals I somehow get this laser focus and work until I achieve what I intend.

    Hopefully when I take this quiz again in a couple of months I reach Top Of the Class!!!

    Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  2. Corrisa Malone says

    June 25, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    Over the years I have given all those excuses and then some. I got tired of not having success and so the excuses had to go. That old saying that you can’t make excuses and money at the same is so true! Great article Sydney!!

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 30, 2013 at 11:13 pm

      Thanks Corrisa! Nice job breaking out of your funk and taking action.

      Reply
  3. Buck Inspire says

    June 21, 2013 at 10:42 am

    This was fun! A few years ago, I would be in the kick in the pants category, now I am top of class. Mentally I am pretty positive. My biggest problem is channeling it and taking more action. With a 14 month old and a 9 to 5, free time juggling is very challenging these days.

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 30, 2013 at 11:12 pm

      That’s great progress and staying positive is the way to go. Juggling work and a young one must be tough and definitely tests your patience and perseverance. I’m sure it’s motivating too being able to provide for your family.

      Reply
  4. Terry says

    June 18, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    I really appreciate your statement “take control of your thoughts.” To me, that’s what it’s all really about.

    One excuse that I lean on alot is “I’m too tired to do it now.” Yet, in the back of my mind, I know that I do some of my best writing when I am tired. I just have to sit down and prepare to get to work, then the energy comes.

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 19, 2013 at 12:19 am

      Thanks Terry. I suffer from “I’m too tired” a lot myself too. I need to make better use of the mornings when my mind is fresh and I have the most will power and the least amount of distractions. I’m a night owl so I can easily stay up late, but my brain tends to get tired by then so I don’t end up making the best use of my time.

      Reply
  5. Pauline says

    June 18, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    fun test! I got a 5, mostly on procrastination excuses more than doubt. I don’t have very expensive ideas so starting them and failing would not be a big problem, removing the fear barrier.

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 19, 2013 at 12:17 am

      Nice job Pauline! I suffer from procrastination at times too, especially when a task seems super difficult and I don’t break it down into small tasks right away.

      Reply
  6. Moneycone says

    June 18, 2013 at 4:58 am

    What your score is today doesn’t matter as much as where you want to take your score! Work on it one point at a time, the future will be much brighter than the present! Great list!

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 19, 2013 at 12:16 am

      Nice perspective Moneycone. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and does lead to a brighter future. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Thomas says

    June 17, 2013 at 6:31 am

    I can say that I have probably at some point in time given all those excuses but that just meant I wasn’t ready to take on the task at hand. I no longer make excuses but some days you do get those what if thoughts. I quickly move on and focus on what I can control. The biggest one was leaving a job making 6 figures to start out on my own. People called me crazy, stupid and many other things. But I have a wifey that supports me and ample savings so I just let them keep talking and complaining about how much they hate their jobs while I am doing what I truly want to be doing.

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 19, 2013 at 12:14 am

      Nice job not making excuses anymore. “What if” thoughts are totally normal from time to time and that’s good you’re able to quickly move past them.

      Going against the grain and taking on an untemplate lifestyle is bound to get some negative reactions out of people, and it certainly shows you who your true friends are. I’m glad to hear your wife is supportive and that you’re able to do what you truly love!

      Reply
  8. Michael @ The Student Loan Sherpa says

    June 17, 2013 at 5:15 am

    My score was borderline.

    This article was really motivating to me. Hopefully if you check in two weeks from now, I’ll be able to say I’ve achieved top of the class status.

    Reply
    • Sydney says

      June 19, 2013 at 12:09 am

      Thanks, that’s great to hear. If you set your mind to it I’m sure you’ll be able make your way to the top!

      Reply
      • Michael @ The Student Loan Sherpa says

        June 19, 2013 at 5:03 am

        Me too! I think keeping these things in mind is a great way to build some healthy habits.

        Reply

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