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Making Excuses Is Lethal For Many Entrepreneurs
“Stop making excuses.” Many of us heard that from parents growing up. Children often were spanked or put in timeout for making excuses, and teenagers endured a loss of privileges. But in the business world, the consequences for making excuses can be much more lethal. Entrepreneurs who make excuses are not the kind of leaders who inspire […]
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“Stop making excuses.” Many of us heard that from parents growing up. Children often were spanked or put in timeout for making excuses, and teenagers endured a loss of privileges.
But in the business world, the consequences for making excuses can be much more lethal.
Entrepreneurs who make excuses are not the kind of leaders who inspire others to follow them into the unknown. Making excuses can be deadly to any business, but especially to new businesses trying to capture new territory.
For some people, making excuses becomes a way of life, but beating that addiction can be an indicator of future success.
Freeing yourself from excuses is incredibly liberating and a driver in success. When we don’t get the job done, or the deal falls through, we start searching for all the outside forces that conspired against us. Especially in a larger organization, shifting blame seems like a painless, simple process. We blame John and he can blame Jane and, in the end, nobody is to blame, right? Wrong.
Entrepreneurs must have the maturity and motivation to accept responsibility for their actions, whether they produce success or failure. Accepting responsibility for a failure may not be easy, but it impacts an entrepreneur’s sphere of influence more than most realize.
These are suggested remedies for entrepreneurs who may wonder if they are making too many excuses in their businesses.
Set the example
Your employees will know if you are making excuses and so will your customers. They are watching how you handle situations more than you realize.
Protect your personal reputation
Many entrepreneurs start their businesses with the help of family and friends. For most small-business people, their personal reputation is inextricably tied to their company’s reputation. If you are known as a person who makes a lot of excuses, many people will not want to do business with you.
Take time to reflect
You should be willing to conduct self and team examinations to learn from your failures.
Regardless of what business an entrepreneur is in, it’s important that when wins and losses come, the entrepreneur should be the first to accept blame, and the last to accept credit.
Peter J. Strauss (www.peterjstrauss.com) is an attorney, captive insurance manager, and author of several books, including most recently “The Business Owner’s Definitive Guide to Captive Insurance Companies.”
ABC Creative Group recently hired JORDAN HARMON as a videographer. A graduate of SUNY Oswego with a degree in mass communications, he got his start in broadcast news before transitioning to agency work. Harmon will use his experience in filming, editing, and production to create technical and creative video for ABC clients.
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ABC Creative Group recently hired JORDAN HARMON as a videographer. A graduate of SUNY Oswego with a degree in mass communications, he got his start in broadcast news before transitioning to agency work. Harmon will use his experience in filming, editing, and production to create technical and creative video for ABC clients.
ADMAR has promoted DREW DUNHAM to outside sales representative in its Syracuse office. He has been with ADMAR since 2014 and served in a variety of roles, including wash-bay attendant, yard attendant, pickup-truck delivery driver, rental coordinator, and inside sales and outside sales support. Dunham previously spent time with ADMAR’s parent company, DiMarco Group, as
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ADMAR has promoted DREW DUNHAM to outside sales representative in its Syracuse office. He has been with ADMAR since 2014 and served in a variety of roles, including wash-bay attendant, yard attendant, pickup-truck delivery driver, rental coordinator, and inside sales and outside sales support. Dunham previously spent time with ADMAR’s parent company, DiMarco Group, as commercial leasing representative at the Rochester office. He earned his bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
DR. XINJIAN (ARTHUR) LU has joined SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) as dean of the College of Business Management. He has a Ph.D. in management sciences, two master’s degrees (in computing & information science and in systems in engineering), and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He joins SUNY Poly from the College of Business and
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DR. XINJIAN (ARTHUR) LU has joined SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) as dean of the College of Business Management. He has a Ph.D. in management sciences, two master’s degrees (in computing & information science and in systems in engineering), and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He joins SUNY Poly from the College of Business and Economics at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), where he was serving as interim dean of its College of Business and Economics. At CSUEB since 1999, Lu also served as associate dean, chair, and associate chair of that university’s Department of Management, and professor of numerous undergraduate and graduate courses in operations management and computer information systems. He also has experience as a software engineer at Mortice Kern Systems and Prior Data Science.
CHA Consulting, Inc. has promoted three staff members in Syracuse. CHARLES (CHUCK) WALCK has been promoted to assistant project engineer III in its mechanical and energy group. He has more than five years of experience in the field, performing assessments for energy-related programs. Walck holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University.
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CHA Consulting, Inc. has promoted three staff members in Syracuse. CHARLES (CHUCK) WALCK has been promoted to assistant project engineer III in its mechanical and energy group. He has more than five years of experience in the field, performing assessments for energy-related programs. Walck holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University. RYAN VOORHEES has been promoted to project manager II in its industry and energy group. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has performed project management, cost estimating, and piping systems design for nearly a decade. ZACH PLONKA has been promoted to project engineer IV in the firm’s civil engineering department. His work has focused on civil/site and water/wastewater design for commercial, government, and residential land development projects since joining the firm in 2011. KEVIN WACKER has been promoted to engineer II in the electric distribution design group. He has been heavily involved in CHA’s electric distribution feeder hardening projects. Wacker’s work has included gathering field data, performing condition assessments, reviewing standards, and developing recommendations for improving reliability.
Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt has promoted JOSEPH W. WARD to senior associate in its structural engineering practice. He is a licensed professional engineer with 20 years of experience. Ward has been with the East Syracuse firm for the past 12 years. He is also licensed in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Ward has a bachelor’s degree in
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Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt has promoted JOSEPH W. WARD to senior associate in its structural engineering practice. He is a licensed professional engineer with 20 years of experience. Ward has been with the East Syracuse firm for the past 12 years. He is also licensed in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Ward has a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Brigham Young University.
Tompkins Financial Advisors has promoted JENNIFER ALFIERI to the position of VP, chief fiduciary officer. She first joined Tompkins Financial Advisors in May 2017, serving as trust counsel. Prior to joining Tompkins, Alfieri was an attorney specializing in estate planning, trust and estate administration, and elder law with Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC. She graduated
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Tompkins Financial Advisors has promoted JENNIFER ALFIERI to the position of VP, chief fiduciary officer. She first joined Tompkins Financial Advisors in May 2017, serving as trust counsel. Prior to joining Tompkins, Alfieri was an attorney specializing in estate planning, trust and estate administration, and elder law with Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC. She graduated from St. Bonaventure University and Syracuse University College of Law and holds an advanced law degree in estate planning from the University of Miami School of Law. LISA ANNE LEONARDO has been promoted to VP, trust operations officer. She previously served as assistant VP and trust operations manager. Leonardo was also the treasurer of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services. She graduated from Ithaca College with a bachelor’s degree in management.
Rome Medical Practice, an affiliate of Rome Memorial Hospital, has hired LISA TAURISANO as its new administrative clinical manager. She has more than 20 years of clinical nursing experience and eight years of management experience in a health-care setting. Taurisano began her career in health care as a licensed practical nurse. She went on to
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Rome Medical Practice, an affiliate of Rome Memorial Hospital, has hired LISA TAURISANO as its new administrative clinical manager. She has more than 20 years of clinical nursing experience and eight years of management experience in a health-care setting. Taurisano began her career in health care as a licensed practical nurse. She went on to receive her associate degree in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College, her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNYIT/Utica College, and her master’s degree in health-care administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
MICHAEL J. HRAB has joined Hancock Estabrook, LLP’s commercial real-estate practice. His focus is on representing clients in commercial sales and purchases, lease transactions, commercial loans, and lender transactions. Hrab was previously counsel for a national title company, handling complex title matters and varied real-estate transactions. He has also served as assistant corporate counsel to
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MICHAEL J. HRAB has joined Hancock Estabrook, LLP’s commercial real-estate practice. His focus is on representing clients in commercial sales and purchases, lease transactions, commercial loans, and lender transactions. Hrab was previously counsel for a national title company, handling complex title matters and varied real-estate transactions. He has also served as assistant corporate counsel to the City of Syracuse, assisting in housing-code enforcement cases in City Court and Supreme Court. Hrab received his bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College and his law degree from Western New England University School of Law
Buckeye Corrugated Inc. (BCI) has promoted JASON CROUCH to division general manager of the BCI Empire Division. He joined BCI in October 2013 as sales manager for the Empire Division. Crouch holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from SUNY-ESF at Syracuse. According to his LinkedIn profile, he previously worked as a sales representative for
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Buckeye Corrugated Inc. (BCI) has promoted JASON CROUCH to division general manager of the BCI Empire Division. He joined BCI in October 2013 as sales manager for the Empire Division. Crouch holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from SUNY-ESF at Syracuse. According to his LinkedIn profile, he previously worked as a sales representative for Rock-Tenn Company for more than five years.
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