Why most Designers say Excuses - 6 Strategies to overcome

If you are someone who always says excuses in your career, then you are really making a big fool out of yourself. Particularly if you are in a creative field. Lot of designers make this mistake. How to even know that you are making that mistake and how to stop telling excuses and start getting results. Because you will get only one, either results or excuse. Okay, so you can keep saying excuses like I don't have time, I don't have money, I don't have resources. If I had, I would be a great designer, I would do this, that or you get a proper results to achieve a particular design or anything in your organization or something.

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So excuses is one of the big, big problems in design area. This particular podcast is going to address you that.

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So my mentor Brian Tracy always says either you keep on telling excuses in your life or you get success. There is nothing in between. That's a very clear stand. Okay, so what does mean by excuse? Let me tell you guys, there are lot many reasons why which a designer tells always excuses. Okay, so like let's say if you're working in a project or if you are working in some internship opportunity or freelancing or anything, so many times the trigger for that excuse is sometimes the vague is. Sometimes the brief is very vague. Okay, so like let's say if a project is given for the designer, if it's not understood properly, okay, maybe if the customer itself is not having a proper clear understanding, maybe it's very too vague brief. Okay, that's how all the design problem comes. That's another point of discussion. But yeah, this is how the project nature comes in. So what they'll tell you is immediately the designers will keep on telling. No, it's too vague. No, it's not possible to solve this problem. It's. It's difficult. I mean it's not a design problem at all. So this is an excuse. Let me tell you an antidote for it. Okay, Go and find out how to really redefine this particular problem statement. Go and do a research about what is this topic about? If your customer is not giving the input, Go and ask your clients. Sorry, go and ask your customers. Like let's say a customer in the sense, I'm saying the end user.

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Because your client is not that relatively knowledgeable in that try to find some sources where you can get information. See, you are taking responsibility for solving this problem, right? See the opposite word of excuse is responsibility. The moment when you own a responsibility, automatically you will stop saying excuses, guys, no matter what, you will go and achieve it. Okay, this is the first antidote. You'll have to find a way or a research or a data or a Persona or a feedback or some area where you can find out a clear redefined problem out of it.

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More than 70% of the design problems are not solved through a proper understanding of what the problem is. They just have in the sake of a problem, as a problem and they have a tool and they have a process, they will do it. Let me research, let me ideate, let me prototype, let me test, let me reiterate design thinking process. That is what Don Norman says. No.

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So please understand that sense of common which is very vital for a designer.

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The second thing why people are saying excuses is fear of judgment. See, before when somebody is going to say that your concept is bad, your concept is not good enough, or we are not going to take this concept for this version. So people tell like, okay, it's not possible for me to do this design. Okay, they'll make a backup, they'll make a back off in initial stage itself. So a lot of people tell that, hey, this is because of what reasons you're saying? No, no, no, this particular thing is not going to work and we are not going to design this and our company's design criteria will not match this. So a fear of judgment is inherently there. As a designer with you, that is the reason which is making you to say no or to find an excuse to tell, hey, we don't have this particular resource or a software tool, so we cannot do this. Okay, See, instead I'll tell you an antidote. Okay, I'm not telling you only the excuses, guys. I'm telling you an antidote also for it. You will have to mindset change. You will have to change your flip your mindset in a way that what it takes to solve this problem. Okay, See, the moment when you think about what it takes to solve the problem, now you are getting responsible. Now you will find the ways to do it. Okay? This software we need to deliver this kind of a high rendering output. Yeah, we'll have to go and get it. How much is the cost? We'll send a proposal to our company, we'll get it signed, we'll talk to them, we'll justify the business value and proposition so that the company sees the value. And then I'll get that software. Now you're going to deliver that project. See, See, the more excuses you start seeing in your life, you are fooling around yourself and you're not going anywhere.

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You're going in spirals, downward spiral in your life. The moment when you start taking responsibility, which is the opposite of excuse, you are becoming a great person, guys. You are taking the ownership of that problem. And then you're. Let me tell you guys, the moment if you take ownership, thousands of ways will find in front of your eyes. People will come and help you voluntarily. You will find relevant articles and materials and suggestions and everything in front of you because you have taken the responsibility.

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So the third important thing is people are overproductive sometimes.

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Again, it all comes under the very insecure feel what people have. So they say, okay, this is particularly not feasible. This color is design, concept, manufacturing. So designer itself will tell that excuse. See, rather than the other team saying that as a problem, we itself say that as a problem. Why? Because we wanted to be overprotective. Because nobody needs to find out us. Nobody needs to find out our insecurity or incompetence, right? This is a partial syndrome of imposter syndrome they call partial symptom. So leave that, guys. The antidote to that is taking a bold step and talking to the people about the pros and cons of your concept. That's the ideal way to move forward. People don't do it. They'll only see the downside of it. You're not optimistic, then you are not going anywhere positive in your life. The fourth important thing is inability or the lack of skill. See, sometimes you may lack the skill, sometimes you are not able to do it. So you will say some excuse. Hey, I am taking a vacation here. 10 days leave. Hey, today I feel very feverish. I wanted to go home. Hey, tomorrow I'll do this. Day after tomorrow I'll do Skip Chello. This week we are not going to have this review, right? So we'll do it later. So it all is an excuse. It could be reason of your inability and the lack of skill. Let me tell you guys, go and learn that skill. That's the antidote. Take action. Join in a workshop. Participate in the online classes or any training programs just conducted by your organization. Write to your boss that I need this training. I need that training. I need to attend this workshop. You know what, guys? Every quarter when I'm setting a goal, I used to tell my manager or the seniors, I need this kind of a training program. I need this kind of a workshop. I'll participate in this competition apart from the projects. Because the moment you take responsibility for your learning and growth, automatically you will have the lack of skill overcoming you guys, okay? It's all excuse. Stop saying that and start taking action.

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So the fifth important excuse what people say is I have no time, I have no money, I have no resource.

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Even designers are learning. Like let's say they have not become the designers but they're learning design.

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Everybody tells this excuse, I don't have time, I don't have money.

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I'll tell you an example guys. You'll understand what is excuse and what is reality.

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Like let's say any of our family member. Very very close family member. Okay? Just an example. I'm saying for some reason they got into a big accident.

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So the doctor, you are in the biggest office meeting now. So you're saying, morning, your mother is calling you like hey, why don't you come and see your family members. Everybody is here, okay? So they're saying. So you're saying, no, I don't have time. I'm the busiest person. No. Today my boss review is there. If I come out of that, my boss will throw you out of the organization. So I cannot come. Sorry, sorry, sorry. You're putting too much of seen. Okay, not seen. Maybe for that instance your meeting is very, very vital. And definitely you don't have time. That's what you're thinking.

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Now see that. And you have no bank account balance. Like let's say thousand rupees. Also you don't have. Let's imagine that. Worst scenario. Evening you are getting a call from your home that one of your family member got into a very serious accident. Let's say afternoon, 2 o' clock you are getting that call. Will you say that you have an office meeting with your boss or will you rush to the hospital? So where does the time comes now for you? Second thing the doctor is saying if you pay 5 lakhs only we can take this surgery. If you are not, we cannot see this person again. In next two hours you'll have to ready 5 lakhs. Will you do? Will you say I have no money to the doctor or will you go and find that money? Where does that 5 lakh comes from? I'm 100% sure everybody in the world will make that 5 lakhs ready. Because the closest to people are the ones who is the great thing in our life, right? We'll do anything for them. We'll go for an insurance or we'll take a loan. We'll ask our friend, we'll sell our jewels. We'll do anything, anything, everything to pay that. So time and money is just in your mindset, guys. You're not prioritize that particular task. What you have as a big priority and value in your life. See right now your relative member is highest value. So you're not worried about time and money. So time and money is just an excuse, guys. Time, money, resource. When you are taking the responsibility, when you're taking the ownership, you will find no matter what time and money to do everything. Guys, okay. When I ask people about the mentorship, they say hey Jagdish, I don't have time here, I'm busy. Hey, I don't have money here. I cannot pay for the mentorship program. I'll tell you guys, if you're not learning design and if you're not joining the organization or something, how will you get money?

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You'll have to invest for your learning, right? And second thing, if you're not taking time to learn, when will you learn? You wanted to go to the next level of your career. And then if you're saying excuse, excuse, excuse, no time, no time, no time. Let me tell you guys, one certain date company throws you out of the organization.

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Like let's say if you're working in a developer role where your development software is getting automated by AI. Okay. Already it's happening. It's not a story what I'm saying.

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So they say definitely you're not needed. Your services can be done with a simple automation tool. What we have for the testing. So sorry, we are removing. You mean this is your check, There is the door. Have to leave. That's it. Now you will forcefully find time to learn new skill. Now you will forcefully learn time. Find some money to invest for your learning program and you will learn. Because your highest priority and value now has got shifted. So why don't you use this method always to find out the biggest value and biggest priority in your life and take the ownership and responsibility for that. Let me tell you guys genuinely, if you take the ownership in your life, you will find huge time, huge money, huge resources. The way in which you think, in your mindset, it all matters. Guys. See, you are responsible for what you do.

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So you are responsible for what you do. There is something called law of sowing and reaping. Whatever you sow, you reap. If you say no time, no time, no time. Yeah. You will be ending up in a life where you will be working from morning to night. You will never get time in your life to enjoy your life or even to spend the time with your family. If you say no money, no money, no money, you will get into a job where you have to do a paycheck to paycheck life where you will never get into A plus life which is like you will be running debts, running loans and you will not go into A plus financial freedom. So change your words. From now on, take ownership and responsibility. Because whatever you say, it will happen.

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Again. Guys, law of cause and effect is another important thing which I wanted to say. Everything what we are getting as an effect, there is a cost to it. Okay, so why are you really saying you don't have time? Why are you saying you you don't have money? Why are you always fear of judgment? Why are you saying lot of excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses. Hey, tomorrow morning I have to wake up at this time. Oh, I cannot wake up because last night I slept early. Last night I slept late. Is that an excuse? Yeah, that's an excuse. No, I cannot go for this party. I don't have time. Again, an excuse. Hey, no. I cannot go for this project because I don't have enough money to do. That's an excuse. You don't value that party. That's why you're not going. Simple. Let's say if you wanted to do that particular project and portfolio, but you're not able to do it. Hey, I wanted to do that project and portfolio in a very high class visual design work. But I'm not able to do it. I'm incompetent. That's an excuse. Go and learn the skill and do it. Hey, no, I didn't find time to learn. Again, that's an excuse. Find time in the early mornings, in the day times, whenever you're available for 15 to 20 minutes. Learn something new. So everything what you are having as an excuse, you can ask a very quality question. Guys, once you start saying right words and associate with right people and do right things, you will get lot of right success in your life.

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So stop saying lot of excuses. I'll suggest you a material. Guys, there is a book called no Excuse by Brian Tracy. Okay, I'll paste this description in the chat. Also, this is a great book. Guys, your life will profoundingly change. You will come to know that 80% of your failures in your life is happening because of you, you, you, you. Not by outside, not by time, not by money, not by resources. If my. If my parents would have made me join in this college, I would have become a biggest designer. Hey, if my wife would have allowed me to go for this particular job, I would have earned lakhs of rupees. Hey, if my kid was there in this particular city, I would have stayed in a very different high class. What you call living room because of my kids education. Now I'm getting into a very low paying job. It's all excuse guys, think about it. You don't value things in a right priority and an order. That's why you are using the other things as an excuse in order to justify your actions.

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So never, never say that. At least from now on, take responsibility. And if you need my mentorship support to really teach all these things guys, let me tell you, learning design is very simple. Learning about you is most, most difficult. That's what in my mentorship program I teach students first of all to write about themselves, to know their strength and negatives, to really know about why they have choose to design. And then only they'll start stopping these excuses and they'll start taking action. Everybody in my program wake up at 4:45 in the morning and every day we start at 5:30 to 7. Do you think people are telling excuses to join that? Yeah, they were telling excuses before but once they met me and then they started working with me, nobody has any excuses to tell to come in the morning. 87 to 92 percentage attendance receive in the morning session. So everything is possible if you determine what is your true priority and value in your life. Okay, thank you so much guys for this podcast. If you feel this is valued, if you feel this is added value, give me a best star rating in Apple and Spotify. Subscribe me for further episodes and send an email to DFC Design for Change with your resume and portfolio. If you need my mentorship support to learn lot more things like that, I'll be happy to help you out. Take care. All the best. Bye bye.