Unsuccessful people, no matter how different they appear, all seem to share one powerful trait — they are experts at identifying why they failed. Not only do they know the reasons, but they believe in them wholeheartedly. These justifications often sound logical, factual, and even clever. But the truth is, they are nothing more than mental traps that keep people stuck in the same place.
At Lumiself Lab, our mission is to help you break free from these mental blocks. Today, we bring you the most common alibis people use to explain why they haven’t succeeded — directly inspired by Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich.
As you read through the list, reflect honestly:
Do you use any of these alibis? If yes, now is the time to stop and reset your mindset.
Here are 50 common alibis unsuccessful people use:
- IF I didn’t have a wife and family . . .
- IF I had enough “pull” . . .
- IF I had money . . .
- IF I had a good education . . .
- IF I could get a job . . .
- IF I had good health . . .
- IF I only had time . . .
- IF times were better . . .
- IF other people understood me . . .
- IF conditions around me were only different . . .
- IF I could live my life over again . . .
- IF I did not fear what “THEY” would say . . .
- IF I had been given a chance . . .
- IF I now had a chance . . .
- IF other people didn’t “have it in for me” . . .
- IF nothing happens to stop me . . .
- IF I were only younger . . .
- IF I could only do what I want . . .
- IF I had been born rich . . .
- IF I could meet “the right people” . . .
- IF I had the talent that some people have . . .
- IF I dared assert myself . . .
- IF I only had embraced past opportunities . . .
- IF people didn’t get on my nerves . . .
- IF I didn’t have to keep house and look after the children . . .
- IF I could save some money . . .
- IF the boss only appreciated me . . .
- IF I only had somebody to help me . . .
- IF my family understood me . . .
- IF I lived in a big city . . .
- IF I could just get started . . .
- IF I were only free . . .
- IF I had the personality of some people . . .
- IF I were not so fat . . .
- IF my talents were known . . .
- IF I could just get a “break” . . .
- IF I could only get out of debt . . .
- IF I hadn’t failed . . .
- IF I only knew how . . .
- IF everybody didn’t oppose me . . .
- IF I didn’t have so many worries . . .
- IF I could marry the right person . . .
- IF people weren’t so dumb . . .
- IF my family were not so extravagant . . .
- IF I were sure of myself . . .
- IF luck was not against me . . .
- IF I had not been born under the wrong star . . .
- IF it were not true that “what is to be will be” . . .
- IF I did not have to work so hard . . .
- IF I hadn’t lost my money . . .
- IF I lived in a different neighborhood . . .
- IF I didn’t have a “past” . . .
- IF I only had a business of my own . . .
- IF other people would only listen to me . . .
- IF — and this is the most powerful one of all — I had the courage to see myself as I really am.
“I would find out what is wrong with me, and correct it. Then I might have a chance to profit from my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others.”
Final Thought
It’s easy to get stuck in “IF.” But the truth is, every excuse you use builds a wall between you and your goals. It’s time to take responsibility, stop building alibis, and start building action. The only thing standing between you and the life you want — is you.
