049: What If Every Excuse You’ve Ever Heard Was Just One of Four?

You’ve heard a thousand excuses—but what if there were really only four? In this sharp, tactical solo episode, Erik unpacks the universal patterns behind excuses and gives leaders a practical four-step play to move from frustration to clarity. With real-life examples and sharp reframes, this is your go-to guide for handling the conversations you’ve been avoiding. Get ready to ditch the dread, drop the debate, and redirect like a pro.

❓ The Big Question

What if the excuses you dread the most could be dismantled with one simple play?

💡 Key Takeaways

• There are only four types of excuses—once you see them, you can stop chasing your tail.
• Excuses are just pressure release attempts—bait designed to hijack the conversation.
• You can handle any excuse using a repeatable four-step play:
  1. Identify the excuse
  2. Avoid the bait
  3. Address the excuse
  4. Redirect with an open-ended question
• Avoiding the bait is critical—most excuses contain just enough truth to pull you off course.
• The real power move? Condition your team to realize excuses won’t get traction with you.

🧠 Concepts, Curves, and Frameworks

• The 4 Excuses:
  1. It’s not my fault
  2. I didn’t know
  3. I’m on it now
  4. That’s not normal
• The 4-Step Play:
  1. Identify which excuse is in play
  2. Avoid the bait (don’t get hooked!)
  3. Address the excuse with truth
  4. Redirect with an open-ended question
• Redirection Language: Use open-ended questions starting with who, what, when, where, how to shift the conversation productively.

🔁 Real-Life Reflections

• Erik shares how he accidentally discovered the four excuses after hearing the same patterns across industries—from engineers to healthcare workers.
• He reflects on being steamrolled as a young sales leader by “verbal ninjas” and how that pain became the pattern.
• Talks directly to leaders who’ve avoided conversations out of fear of hearing the same excuse for the hundredth time.
• He reminds us: once you stop being afraid of the excuse, your whole posture changes.
• Offers a practical challenge: think of that one person on your team who always makes excuses. Which one of the four do they use? Now get ready.

🧰 Put This Into Practice

• Write down the name of the person who makes the most excuses in your world.
• Identify their go-to excuse using the four types.
• Script out your redirect in advance using an open-ended question.
• Practice your tone: firm but empathetic, curious but grounded.
• Review this before your next tough convo—and watch how fast things shift.

🗣️ Favorite Quotes

“Excuses are bait. If they can hook you, they hijack the conversation.”

“It might not be your fault—but it is your responsibility.”

“You’ll never win a debate trying to prove what’s in someone’s brain. Don’t take the bait.”

“When you stop being afraid of excuses, they lose their power.”

“You’re not just managing performance—you’re conditioning culture.”