your "yeah but" IS costing you $$ ... [🐝U]

🎧 Listen to the “really-me” shake things up in the audio version 🎧

Mother Nature decided winter wasn't done beating us down yet.

I’ve got a perfect excuse right now.
Almost a foot of snow.
Wind that won’t quit.
Solar panels that need clearing every hour.

… my taxes aren’t done yet.

But here's the thing about a storm …
It’s only a problem if you pretend you didn’t see it coming.

I prepped for it.
Spent the day getting supplies & charging the truck.
Everything that needed to be handled, handled.

& I didn't mind being snowed in one bit.
… unlike the folks stuck overnight on the highway in their cars.
(You know it’s bad when even the New York Times is reporting it)

I was ready for the storm.

& here’s the part that makes this worse…
I still got a full week of real work done in a few days:
→ LinkedIn content prepped through to the end of June
→ Month-end billing & all the fun that comes with it
→ Clientless behind-the-scenes structure for everyone who's been asking
→ 2 articles finished for a publication … 2 full weeks ahead of deadline

& those taxes?

Still sitting exactly where I left them.
Getting closer to the deadline.
Weighing heavily on my head.

yeah but... yeah but...

It’s like an episode of The Flintstones

You know what's missing from that sentence?
The part where anything actually changes.

Fred Flintstone didn't stand there going "yabba dabba”...
But we’re sitting here stuck on
yeah but…
yeah but…

yeah but the weather...
yeah but the timing... yeah but I just need a few more things sorted first."

He said yabba dabba DOO.

I could tell you the taxes aren't done because of the snow.
The wind.
The panels that needed clearing.
Or even the cats who have apparently decided a power cord is a snack.

& all of that would sound completely reasonable.

But here's what's actually true:
I'm waiting on my accountant to confirm what else is needed.

...

Have I followed up with my accountant?
Nope.

Not because I can’t.
Because I just haven’t.

That’s not a reason.
It just sounds like one.

It’s an excuse… dressed up well enough that you don’t question it.

& the longer you leave it there…
the more it starts to feel true..

& those taxes are probably coming down to the wire.
Again.

the reason vs excuse difference … & it matters

A reason stops you.
But an excuse… you stop yourself with.

Something you didn't push back on.
Something you called a reason so you wouldn't have to look at it too closely.

The snow is a reason I needed to snowplow the driveway & clear the solar panels.
Sure.
But it didn’t stop me from following up with my accountant … that was a 1 minute email that could have been done at any hour.
… so the taxes are still sitting there.

See the difference?

This week I had 3 coaching calls that all ended up in exactly the same place.

Different people.
Different businesses.

Same excuse.

A consultant I work with had a clear list of needle-moving tasks…
→ the kind that would make it easier for people to find her & subscribe to her newsletter
→ We'd talked about it & she knew exactly what needed doing.

She spent hours last week prompting AI for a LinkedIn banner…
& not 1 new subscriber showed up.

A newsletter publisher landed her first paid sponsorship placement last month.
→ Proof of concept. Someone said yes & handed over money.
→ Every week since, she's been running the same service for others...

...for free.

Why?
→ Timing’s not right.
→ Pricing needs sorting.

All of it sounds logical.
None of it moves anything forward.

& a consultant helping a local gyms …
→ a new business had over 140 people sign up, but maybe 10% actually showed.

They shared real ideas. Good options to solve the show-up problem.
The business owner's on board.
Agreed with pretty much everything.

Still doing it … for free.
Needs more real-life examples first.

here's what I said to each of them

& what I'd say to myself if I’m being honest:

That's not a reason.
That's an excuse.

The graphics aren't done but Canva is more frictionless
& the LinkedIn button requires figuring something out.

The pricing isn't sorted because "after tourist season starts" keeps the discomfort at a safe distance.

The examples aren't there yet because asking for something back feels premature...
& free feels safer.

The taxes aren't done because I haven't sent 1 email …
& I’m avoiding the tax bill

I know I still have to pay it.
& I have a deadline

but it’s clogging up space in my brain
& slowing me down

just like the stuff my clients are doing to avoid the uncomfortable truth
& like my taxes, avoiding it doesn’t make it go away.

But without a deadline, the longer you wait, the harder it is to actually take that next step.

Yeah but.
Yeah but.
Yeah but.

It sounds different every time…
but it’s the same thing.

The goal posts keep moving.
The DO never happens.

& next week?
You’ll say the same thing again…
just with a better excuse.

so what actually helps

It’s not motivation.
It’s not another system.

It’s someone who won’t let you get away with your own story.
It’s accountability.

& here's where most people get this completely backwards.

Accountability isn't someone you go to when things are hard
& they pat you on the head & say "that's ok, you're doing great."

That's enabling.

Real accountability is someone who hears your excuse…
& won’t let it slide.

Someone who looks at your yeah-but
& says... so what's stopping you from sending the email?

Someone who isn't there to make you feel better about not doing the thing.
They're there to help you DO the thing.

I have people like that in my corner.
They call me out.
It's uncomfortable sometimes.
& I don’t look forward to those calls …
But I have them anyway …
every week.

it’s why I spend more time actually moving things forward…
instead of just staying busy.

The difference between those 2 words is not small.

the only question worth asking right now

Not "what do I need to do?"
You already know that.

The question is:
What’s the thing on your list…
that has the best excuse protecting it?

Not a reason.
An excuse.

Be honest with yourself.

The thing that has a perfectly logical explanation for why today isn't the day.
The thing where (if someone like me pushed back on that explanation)
you'd have to admit there's actually 1 small step you could take right now.

That's your DO.

I’m writing this newsletter right now…
Instead of sending a 1-minute email to my accountant.

That’s the truth.

Which means this issue’s for me as much as it is for you.

Yabba dabba... do the thing.

Because I know I’m getting emails asking me if I did the thing.

What’s your yeah-but?
The one dressed up as a reason.
you know isn’t real.

Make it a great "DO-filled" week!
EG

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