"Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses."
— George Washington Carver
American Scientist
1864 - 1943
Commentary
The easiest thing to find are excuses for our failures. Excuses are a dime a dozen. "I don't have enough time." I don't have enough education." "My father used to beat me." "I grew up without a father." "I did not have enough money to go to school." "I don't have time to write." "I don't have time to draw."
Life is about choice, not excuses. We choose what we do — how we spend our time. Everyone faces problems. The key is how we respond to our problems. Do we bury our heads in the sand and ignore the problems? Do we make excuses and quit? Or do we choose to keep fighting for our dreams? Do we find another way to solve the problems. The choice is yours.
What dreams have you given up on? What excuses are you making today? Why have you settled for less than you are capable of achieving?
Creative Practice
Make list of all your excuses. Then light a match and watch them go out up in smoke. Make another list of all the reasons you want to be a writer, an artist or a creative leader. Post this list where you can read it daily. Stay focused on what you want. Most people focus on the obstacles in their path; instead, focus on your goals — where you want to go.
Background on George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was born a slave in Missouri. When George was a week old, his mother, sister and him were kidnapped and taken to Kentucky. Only George was recovered by his owner, Moses Carver. When slavery was abolished, George was raised by his former
owner as his own child. His adoptive parents encouraged education and taught George how to read and write. He earned a diploma from Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas. He earned a bachelors and masters degree from Iowa State.
After college, Carver taught at Tuskegee Institute for 47 years in the agricultural department which he turned into a strong research center. Carter researched and experimented with new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans, pecans and other crops. He discovered over 300 uses for for peanuts. Carver never married. He died at the age of 78 and was buried next to Booker T. Washington. On his grave was written: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."
After college, Carver taught at Tuskegee Institute for 47 years in the agricultural department which he turned into a strong research center. Carter researched and experimented with new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans, pecans and other crops. He discovered over 300 uses for for peanuts. Carver never married. He died at the age of 78 and was buried next to Booker T. Washington. On his grave was written: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."
