Deliver The Goods

By Elbert Hubbard

Author Elbert Hubbard told the story of an incident during the Spanish-American War. It was imperative that the president got a message to the leader of the insurgents. His name was Garcia and he was known to be fighting somewhere in the mountains of Cuba, but no mail or telegraph could reach him. Someone said, "There's a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you if anybody can." Rowan took the letter without hesitation. He sealed it in a leather pouch strapped over his chest. He landed in the dark of night off the coast of Cuba and made his way to the mountains, after much difficulty, found Garcia. He handed him the letter, turned around and headed home. Hubbard tells this story in "A Letter to Garcia." Rowan didn't ask, "Exactly where is he?" or "I doubt if I can do it." There was a job to be done and he did it.

My Reflection:

Sometimes we are guilty of automatically looking for excuses to get out of a little hard work or to relieve ourselves of responsibility. A little too often we rationalise why we can’t do certain things, making excuses to prevent ourselves from achieving greatness… Unfortunately this is the first step in personal sabotage. Get over your “excuse making” self, no one enjoys listening to an excuse maker! It’s time to seize each opportunity that is presented to you and immerse yourself fully. Forget the why and how... just do it! Making excuses will only hinder your own personal progress. If you want results you will have to work hard, that is the only way you will get ahead of the crowd. Instead of making a hundred and one excuses why you can't complete a task or you can’t take on a project, think about our hero Rowan and deliver the goods!


Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” – Benjamin Franklin