No More Excuses: The Weight, and Freedom, of Leadership

Lessons from the Wall – Part 3: Inner Mindset

The Tradeoff of Leadership

Among the quotes taped to that wall I photographed years ago, this one sits like a quiet gut punch:

“When you become a leader, you must lose the right to make excuses.”
— Simon Sinek

It’s one of those lines that’s easy to agree with and hard to live by.

Leadership is often seen as a promotion, a reward, or a next step. But what we don’t talk about enough is what you give up when you step into that role.

You give up the ability to say,

• “I didn’t know.”
• “That wasn’t my fault.”
• “Nobody told me.”

You give up the luxury of blaming the system, the client, the market, or the moment. And you take on the responsibility for everything that happens on your watch.

At Township Design

This one hits home often. In a small business, especially one like mine, where the vision and the output are deeply connected, I don’t get to hide behind policies or departments. If something falls short, it lands at my feet.

• When a rendering needs rework? I own it.
• When a project hits delays? I own it.
• When communication breaks down? I look at what I could have done better.

Not because I enjoy taking the blame, but because excuses don’t move anything forward. Accountability does.

What You Gain When You Stop Excusing

It may sound heavy, but here’s the upside:

1. When you lose the right to make excuses, you gain the power to create change.
2. You stop waiting for permission and start taking ownership.
3. You become trustworthy, not just because you get it right, but because you take responsibility when you don’t.

That’s the kind of leader I’m trying to be, for my team, for my clients, and my family.

Ask Yourself:

• Where am I still making excuses in my leadership?
• What conversations have I avoided because I didn’t want to own my part?
• What would change if I treated everything as my responsibility, even when it’s not my fault?

Excuses protect your ego. Ownership builds your reputation.
Leadership begins the moment you stop pointing fingers and start asking, “What can I do about it?”