“Excuses are for losers to justify why they are not winners.”
That is what I would tell my four children, and that is what I would tell the thousands of young athletes I coached through 20 years as a United States Soccer Federation nationally licensed coach. I hope my kids and my former players continue to pass that statement onto their children and to the young people whose lives they cross.
Here’s the fact … it is not an excuse … As Sergeant Joe Friday used to say on ‘Dragnet,’ “Just the facts, ma’am. Just the facts.”
After more than two years, I am nearing the completion of my seventh book. This will be the fourth historical novel. Add to that my novella, The Sixth Day: a 17,175-Word Novella About Creation and Prizefighting; a vigilante crime novel DWI: Dying While Intoxicated; and a West Point football trivia book for Black Mesa Publishing and this will be my seventh book.
I try to get five hours each day, five days a week into the book. I am on the third and hopefully final draft with this new one. I want to say the book is my top priority, but I can’t say that for certain. In addition to completing the book and getting it to the publisher …
- I purchase books for a small bookstore.
- I manage a small library.
- I ride my bike 1 – 2 hours each day.
- I give care to my 91-year old father who lives with my wife and me.
- I do a significant amount of research to support what I write
- I read multiple books
- The Great Transformation by Karen Armstrong
- Neither Wolf nor Dog by Ken Nerburn
- Steven Pressfield’s new book, The Lion’s Gate
- Night by Elie Wiesel
- Markings by Dag Hammarskjold
- current and back issues of ‘Parabola’ magazine
I think I am forgetting something, but I can’t remember!
The point is not that I have a lot on my plate. The point is that I have been less attentive to my blogs, the Vitruvian Man blog and E.S. Kraay Online blog. I have not forgotten about either and remain committed to both.
This is my plea to bear with me. I am not abandoning them. Stay with me, and thanks for listening.
Your accomplishments speak for you. You have no reason to make any sort of apology.
I echo your statement: If you want something badly enough you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse.
Keep up the good fight!!!!!
You are THE man …. or is it the MAN. Thanks for your support, Jimbo. I’m the number one fan of a man from Tennessee.