Excuses. We all make them. Do we really need to? Can we live without them? Many years ago, I read of the concept of excusitis, "The Failure Disease". From that point I have tried to live without offering excuses for anything or in any situation. Let's take a look at why we use excuses, do they have any real value, and what are alternatives.

Every one of us face various challenges and tough times throughout our lives. When we do, we have the choice to quit or to push on and do the hard things. At some point or another, we've got to do the hard yards. "We Do Hard" has become a family Mantra for us, and one that we take us into all aspects of our lives. As leaders, demonstrating that we are people who keep going when the going gets tough is of vital importance and being able to encourage others to do the same is essential.

I once heard Peter Daniels answer the question, "How do you go about getting a pay rise, or a promotion? How do you get ahead in your career?" with a very simple statement... "Be Worth More Than You Are Paid!" he said. This has stuck with me ever since, and it is an attitude that I try to take with me in whatever I am doing. Let's unpack this, and discuss what it really means and how we can go about living it out.

I first heard the phrase "Failing Forward" over 20 years ago and it has become part of my journey ever since. In this episode, I discuss and dissect failure, and hopefully persuade that it can be very beneficial, even essential to our success as leaders and in every day life. Join me in discussing how we can fail forward rather than let failure hold us back or be a barrier.

This episode begins the journey and is the place where I would encourage all listeners to start. In it, I describe the thinking behind the podcast, a bit about the framework that I'm using for each episode and a brief introduction of who I am.