“I Don’t Know How” Is Not a Valid Excuse

“I Don’t Know How”| Is Not a Valid(ˈvaləd) Excuse(ikˈskyo͞oz)

By Steve Pavlina

When you say something like this:

I wish I could write better, but my writing skills aren’t very good.

… many intelligent(inˈteləjənt), self-directed(dəˈrekt, dīˈrekt) people| are actually hearing this:

I wish I could write better, but I’m too lazy and undisciplined(ˌənˈdisəplind)| to do anything about it. I also have low self-esteem(əˈstēm), which prevents(prəˈvent) me from believing I can correct this deficiency(dəˈfiSHənsē). You should probably avoid me| and spend your time with someone more worthy.

As an adult(əˈdəlt,ˈadˌəlt)| you’re responsible for your own education. If you find it deficient(dəˈfiSHənt)| in some area(ˈe(ə)rēə), educate(ˈejəˌkāt) yourself| into proficiency(prəˈfiSHənsē).

…

If you’re going to get anywhere in life, you must assume(əˈso͞om) 100% responsibility| for your ongoing education. Maybe your parents and the school system| got you off to a good start. Maybe they didn’t. Whatever happened in that regard(rəˈɡärd), the past| is the past. You must now look to the future. Whatever you didn’t learn back then, you can start learning today. A few years from now, you can have the equivalent(əˈkwiv(ə)lənt) of a Ph.D| in a subject you never studied before. You can master a new language. You can become an expert| on a subject| in which you’re merely(ˈmirlē) a novice(ˈnävəs) today.

Using| “I don’t know how”| as an excuse| is truly pathetic(pəˈTHetik) today. In the information age| where you can begin searching for such answers in seconds, this tired excuse| only makes you look foolish(ˈfo͞oliSH), lazy, and unworthy of success. Even young children wouldn’t be stopped by such a phony(ˈfōnē) obstacle(ˈäbstəkəl).

The next time you feel inclined(inˈklīn) to say| “I don’t know how,”| say instead, “I’m learning how.” At least have the sense(sens) to Google| “how to ___(blaNGk).” The information you need to get started| is already at your fingertips(ˈfiNGgərˌtip).

Think about an educational deficiency| you’d like to correct, and set a new educational goal| right now. What exactly do you wish to learn, and how soon? Then plan out some of the steps you’ll need to take. Identify books to read, courses(kôrs) to take, and experts(ˈekˌspərt) to talk to. Now get to work| and start learning. Start by picking one book, buying it, and reading the first chapter. No more feeble(ˈfēbəl) excuses!

https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2012/04/i-dont-know-how-is-not-a-valid-excuse/