Every time you make an excuse, you're telling yourself a story about why you can't win. And the stories we tell ourselves shape what we believe is possible. Most of us, when we fail, immediately construct a narrative. The problem with excuses is that they create a mental barrier. Once you accept an excuse, you've decided that some obstacles are legitimate reasons to fail. You've created a list of conditions under which you don't expect yourself to succeed. This isn't about being unreasonable or harsh on yourself. It's about maintaining agency. When you reject excuses, you maintain your power to affect outcomes. When you accept them, you surrender that power. So here's a simple rule: when you absolutely need to succeed at something, make a commitment not just to try your best, but to refuse any excuse if you fail.