We all do this thing. This weird, subtle thing that’s both brilliant and completely self-defeating.

Imagine this. You’re at dinner with friends, and you say, “Yeah, I’m running the marathon next month, though my knee’s been acting up a bit lately.”

Sound familiar?

In that single sentence, you’ve just built yourself the perfect escape hatch. If you crush that marathon, you’re not just a runner – you’re a warrior who pushed through injury. But if you bail? Hey, you told everyone about that knee, right?

This isn’t just about marathons. It’s about every big dream we have. Starting a business? “The market’s pretty volatile right now, but I’m going for it.” Asking someone out? “They’re probably seeing someone, but I might give it a shot.”

We sprinkle these little disclaimers into our conversations like insurance policies against failure. And let’s be honest – it’s smart, in a way. It’s protection. It’s safety.

But it’s also a trap.

Because every time we build these pre-emptive excuses, we’re already planning for failure. We’re already giving ourselves permission to quit before we’ve even started. It’s like packing a parachute for a walk in the park – what does that say about our commitment to the walk?

The truth? The people who actually change their lives, who build something remarkable, who achieve the impossible – they don’t arm themselves with excuses. They just show up. They put everything on the line, knowing they might fail spectacularly, and they do it anyway.

This isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being honest. Instead of saying “I’m starting a business, but…” just say “I’m starting a business.” Period. Let the fear of failure sit there, uncomfortable and exposed. Because that fear? That’s not your enemy. It’s just proof that you’re doing something that matters.

Stop cushioning your dreams with backup plans. Stop giving yourself exit strategies before you’ve even started. Just step up, say what you’re going to do, and let the chips fall where they may.

Because here’s the real secret: The only way to do something extraordinary is to be willing to fail at it extraordinarily. No safety nets. No excuses. Just you, your goal, and the raw possibility of both spectacular success and spectacular failure.

Are you ready to stop explaining why you might fail and just start?

Because that’s where the magic happens. That’s where life gets real. That’s where you find out what you’re truly capable of.

The choice is yours… keep building escape routes, or start building something amazing.