In episode 68 of How To Matter, I encourage podcast listeners to focus on excuses and excuse making. Sure, I think we should avoid the need for being excused but that is unlikely. At least, it would be difficult if not impossible to avoid ever needing to be excused. The key then is in how we manage those times when asking to be excused is necessary. The little article below serves as the handout for the episode.

Don't make excuses, make good. – The Famous Anon.

You don't make excuses for not getting the job done. Since you most always get the job done, the situation does not come up very often. When it does happen that you don't get the job done, you accept full and personal responsibility for the outcome. Even if circumstances have worked against getting the expected outcome or if someone else hasn't done what they were supposed to do, you accept responsibility for not anticipating the problem or glitch. You know that, had you been smarter or cleverer, you would have anticipated and handled the situation. Through accepting responsibility and retrospective analysis, both your cognitive and intuitive capacities will serve you better the next time.