The Excuse Hall of Fame

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED substack article, the only substack newsletter that thinks it still counts if you are in a prayer meeting and say you have an "unspoken prayer request" while staring daggers at the person your unspoken prayer request is for.

Full title -- The Excuse Hall of Fame: A Brutally Honest Guide to Why You're Stuck (NOT Why You Suck – Stop Skimming!)

For almost two decades, I've been cranking out resources and hosting premium events that – by God’s grace – actually move the needle in people's lives.

And here's the kicker—none of this stuff was rocket science. It worked because it changed my own life first. I was basically that friend who found a great restaurant and couldn't shut up about it.

But holy moly, the excuses I've heard over the years. Not just about my resources, but about literally any opportunity that might require someone to, you know, actually do something different.

It's like some people have turned excuse-making into an Olympic sport.

These aren't just random cop-outs either. These are the greatest hits—the universal crowd-pleasers that we all whisper to ourselves when faced with the terrifying prospect of change and growth.

So here's the deal: I'm laying out the “Excuse Hall of Fame” along with some reality checks that might sting a little.

If any of it fits, consider this an intervention served with a side of tough love.

Fair warning—you might want to print this sucker out and tape it somewhere you can't ignore it. Like your bathroom mirror. Or your forehead.

Because chances are, you're going to need the reminder when you catch yourself reaching for excuse number seven on a Friday morning.

(Of course, if you’re one of those rare souls who doesn’t make any of these excuses, I’m sure you have at least five friends who do.)

Ready? Let's dive into the beautiful mess of human self-sabotage.

• "I don't have time"

Hey, you have the same amount of time that every other mortal on the planet does. 24 hours in a day, 168 hours per week. Time isn’t your problem. It’s how you manage that time and the priorities you set. Read the article, I Just Don’t Have Time.

So yes, you DO have the time … if you manage it better. Postcript: all of my courses and trainings are asynchronous, which means you have them for life and take them at your own pace. Just sayin’

• "I'll start tomorrow/next week/next year"

The problem here is that “next time” may not be here for you. That’s not a cliché. It’s the truth. Read the article, “Next Time” May Not Be Available. The fact is, if you choose to live on “Someday Island” (“Someday I’ll do xyz”), you might find that the island has sunk into the ocean with you on it.

• "I'm too busy with other responsibilities"

Hey, we all have responsibilities, but this excuse often masks a poor boundary. When you say “no” to life-changing opportunities, you’re often saying “no” to what can help you better manage your responsibilities.

• "What if I fail?"

Fear of failure that prevents any attempt, ignoring that failure is often part of the learning process and that not trying guarantees missing the opportunity. This is the one that keeps people from doing what God has called them to do.

• "I'm comfortable where I am"

Remember what Jesus said about the lukewarm. Despite how mature he was in the Lord, Paul said, “that I might know Him.” And he continued to press on to new spiritual heights. A person who wants all the Lord has for them is never content or comfortable. They are always seeking that which is higher and deeper.

• "I'm not smart/talented enough"

Yes, for some things. That’s true for all of us. I’ll never be a MLB pitcher (yeah, it was the other Frankie V. who took that job). But God has gifted you for other things. And everyone has a contribution. You can also learn new skills and excel.

• "Other people have advantages I don't have"

Yeah, so. That’s true for everyone. It means nothing. God will meet you where you are and take you where He wants, if you will allow and cooperate with Him.

• "I've tried it before and it didn't work"

Using past attempts as evidence that future efforts are pointless, rather than learning from what went wrong. Maybe you tried something similar, but you haven’t tried this. Don't make the mistake of drawing false equivalencies. (Example: “I’ve been to masterminds before.” Response: Yea, but you’ve not been to this one, and it’s completely different.)

• "I can’t afford it"

If you’re on a fixed income or living near the poverty line, this may likely be true. But often, that’s not the case. We spend money on what we set as a priority. Most everyone can afford resources that are less than $50, which is the cost of a book – a resource where you get an author’s best thinking and expertise on a subject.

Here's the harsh reality nobody wants to face: most of the stuff that actually transforms your life isn't free. Even though I give away most of my work for nothing, people treat those freebies like digital trash. It's a brutal truth every creator knows - the moment something costs zero dollars, it gets filed under "maybe someday" in people's brains and promptly forgotten.

• "It won't make a real difference anyway"

You don’t know that. Read the testimonials by others for anything you’re considering. This excuse often stems from fear of disappointment or low self-worth.

• "I'm too old to change"

A limiting belief that assumes age prevents learning new skills or developing new habits, despite evidence that neuroplasticity continues throughout life. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Zechariah and Elizabeth were all elderly when God used them.

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My new book – The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded (March 2025) continues to alter lives instead of just collecting dust on nightstands. Who knew?

And look, I'm not one to get all gushy about book covers, but this one is legitimately gorgeous. Like the designer clearly spent more than five minutes on it, and it shows.

Check it out here and see if it's worth cluttering up your already overflowing bookshelf.

For courses, podcasts, articles, and books on the Insurgence and the deeper journey, check out FrankViola.org.

Until next Thursday,

fv