Lessons from The Wheelhouse. Alaska!

The Difference Between a Reason and an Excuse: Lessons from the Wheelhouse

The distinction between a reason and an excuse can profoundly influence how we approach challenges in both our personal and professional lives. This wisdom, imparted to me by my captain during my days as an Alaskan commercial fisherman, has guided me for over 40 years. Understanding this principle not only holds us accountable but also unlocks our true potential.

Here’s how to distinguish between a reason and an excuse, with examples drawn from everyday scenarios and the world of business:

Core Differences

• Reasons are legitimate and unavoidable obstacles that occur despite your best efforts. They’re rooted in reality and are often backed by preparation and responsibility.
• Excuses are attempts to deflect responsibility or shift blame, often stemming from a lack of preparation or accountability.

Examples in Personal Goals

Health and Fitness

• Excuse: “I can’t go to the gym because I’m too busy.”
• Reality: You didn’t prioritize your time effectively or plan your schedule to include exercise.
• Solution: “plan your day. Lay out your clothes in advance. Hire a trainer. Go to bed earlier. Prioritize your health.

Relationships

• Excuse: “We’re drifting apart because my partner isn’t putting in the effort.”
• Reality: You haven’t initiated meaningful conversations or invested time in the relationship yourself.
• Solution: “Be honest with yourself. Ask yourself, am I doing everything within my ability to work on my relationship and making it a priority"

Examples in Business Goals

Sales Quotas

• Excuse: “I missed my sales target because the economy is bad.”
• Reality: You didn’t adapt your strategy to address current market conditions or explore new opportunities.
• Solution: “Are you putting in the effort? Are you making more calls, having more customer contacts, growing your skillset?

Team Performance

• Excuse: “My team didn’t hit their numbers because they’re not motivated.”
• Reality: You didn’t provide clear goals, training, or regular feedback to help your team succeed.
• Solution: “How can I improve my leadership skills? I will read more books, stay later, give my team personal attention they deserve”

How to Avoid Making Excuses

1. Anticipate Challenges: Plan ahead for potential obstacles. If you know weather might affect your commute, leave earlier.
2. Own Your Actions: Take responsibility for your decisions and the outcomes they produce.
3. Adapt and Adjust: When circumstances change, adjust your approach to stay on track.
4. Learn from Mistakes: Reflect on what went wrong and take actionable steps to improve.

Applying the Lesson

Understanding the difference between a reason and an excuse transforms how we face adversity. It empowers us to take control of situations instead of being controlled by them. Whether it’s ensuring you hit a sales target or maintaining a personal commitment, accountability is the key to success.

It was not until I began to embrace the difference between a reason and an excuse and hold myself accountable that things really began to change for me the reason was simple.

As my captain wisely said, “The sooner a person realizes the difference between a reason and an excuse, the sooner they will have access to their full potential.” This lesson, learned in the tense wheelhouse of a fishing boat, applies universally to every aspect of life.

Comstock Bio:

Douglas Clydesdale Comstock is a living testament to resilience, mental toughness, and entrepreneurial grit. From battling the brutal seas as an Alaskan commercial fisherman in the vein of Deadliest Catch to earning a third-degree blackbelt and representing the USA Intersport Karate Team in Russia and Eastern Europe, Comstock has consistently pushed his physical and mental limits.

He is a three-time finisher of the grueling Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and a legendary open-water swimmer, conquering the Gibraltar Strait at 64 years old and braving 13 hours and 20 minutes in the English Channel before being sidelined by hypothermia and a shoulder injury after 19 miles of swimming.

As a best-selling author, Comstock penned The Mental Toughness Advantage, a groundbreaking 7-step program to build resilience and mental fortitude. He’s now working on his second book, Lessons From The Candle Man, chronicling business insights from his mentor Mike Kittredge, the founder of Yankee Candle, who built his empire from scratch and sold it for $570 million at just 47 years old.

Despite never taking a business class or starting with capital, Comstock founded PF Wellness Consultants in 1981 which have since become AEDserviceAmerica.com and CardiacSuperstore.com, multi-million-dollar enterprises that have set the gold standard in their industries.

As a sought-after speaker and sales trainer, his client roster includes Hollywood icons like Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Willie Nelson, and Mick Jagger, as well as corporate giants such as BAE Systems, BASF, Fuji Film, Bausch and Lomb, Aetna, Xerox, and Tulane University. In his signature humor, Comstock quips, "Even though I wasn’t smart enough to get into Harvard Business School, that didn’t stop them from hiring me as a business consultant."

Douglas Comstock is not just a man of success but a man of relentless determination and inspiring lessons—on stage, in business, and in life.

Contact:

Douglas Clydesdale Comstock

www.AEDserviceAmerica.com

860-970-3250