"If you want to be rich, don't allow yourself the luxury of excuses."

Excuses are like warm blankets. They’re comforting, but they don’t actually get you anywhere. The core idea here is that if you want to achieve wealth, you have to ditch the excuses. It’s about taking full responsibility for your actions and outcomes, no matter how tough things get. If you keep finding reasons why you can’t make more money, you’re giving yourself permission to stay where you are.

Think about the historical context behind this idea. It’s the kind of thing you might hear from self-made millionaires or entrepreneurs who started with nothing. They didn’t give themselves the luxury of excuses because they couldn’t afford to. Every setback was a learning opportunity, not a reason to give up. This mindset is crucial in the business world, where excuses can be the biggest roadblocks to success.

Let’s take the example of Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. She didn’t make excuses when she faced rejections from manufacturers. Instead of saying, “Well, no one wants to make this product, so I guess it’s over,” she kept pushing. She believed in her idea so strongly that she found a manufacturer who was willing to give her a chance. That persistence paid off, and she became a billionaire. If she had allowed herself the luxury of excuses, Spanx might never have existed.

So, how do you apply this wisdom to your own life? Start by recognizing when you're making excuses. It’s easy to say, “I don’t have time,” or “I’m not good enough,” but these are just barriers you’re creating for yourself. Instead, ask yourself what you can do to overcome these obstacles. If you’re short on time, maybe it’s about prioritizing better or cutting out activities that don’t align with your goals. If you think you’re not good enough, consider what skills you need to improve and make a plan to acquire them.

Imagine this scenario: You’ve always dreamed of starting your own graphic design business, but you keep telling yourself you’re too busy with your current job. Every day you tell yourself, “I’ll start when work slows down.” But guess what? Work never slows down. Now, flip that script. Acknowledge that you’re busy but set aside fifteen minutes a day to work on your business plan. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up. In a month, you’ll have over seven hours dedicated to your dream. No more excuses.

Think about running a marathon. You can’t just wake up and run 26.2 miles without any training. If you keep saying, “I’m too tired,” or “I don’t have time to run today,” you’ll never make any progress. But if you commit to running, even just a little bit every day, you’ll gradually build up the endurance you need. It’s the same with building wealth. It’s about consistent effort and not letting excuses get in the way.

In conclusion—just kidding, we’re not doing that. But seriously, think about what’s holding you back. Chances are, it’s not an external factor; it’s your own mindset. Excuses might feel good in the moment, but they’re not going to get you where you want to go. So, next time you catch yourself making one, remember: luxury is for the rich, and excuses aren’t going to get you there.