When something goes wrong or an obstacle is encountered, what's the first thing that people around you try to do? Do they accept responsibility and immediately identify and implement a solution? Or, instead, is their natural inclination to explain away what happened and, in the process, blame something or someone else? If it's typically the latter, then you unfortunately may be caught in a culture of excuses.

"Well, excu-u-use me" may have been the catchphrase of comedian and actor Steve Martin. But it would be a bad motto for your organization, team, social circle, or whatever group you belong to right now. An excuse is a way of shirking and hiding from responsibility. It also allows for shoddy and substandard work or other output. If you want to not achieve your goals, hopes, and dreams, a good way is to keep making excuses. After all, you don't hear award acceptance speeches begin with, "My life really turned for the better when I started making excuses."........

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