In any industry, a curious pattern emerges. Give a hundred people the same product, the same resources, and the same market, yet a handful will consistently achieve extraordinary results while the vast majority struggle to keep up. 🤔
What makes the difference? It’s not the product, the economy, or the circumstances. It’s the mindset.
The Trap of “Good Reasons”
Average performers often have a long list of valid reasons for why they fall short: the economy is down, family issues arose, or they’re just plain tired 😴. These reasons feel true and legitimate. But while they may explain a lack of performance, they do not change the outcome. The numbers don’t lie.
The reality is that external factors are the same for everyone. The top saleswoman who earned over $200,000 in commissions during the 2008 financial crisis faced the same struggling economy as the 95% of her colleagues who barely made a sale. The difference wasn’t the market; it was her. 🚀
This reveals a fundamental truth: success is rarely about the external conditions. It’s about the internal commitment of the person pursuing it.
The Janitor vs. The Vice President: A Lesson from Steve Jobs 💡
Steve Jobs illustrated this concept perfectly when he promoted employees to the role of Vice President at Apple. He would share a simple story:
If the garbage in his office wasn’t being emptied, Jobs would naturally demand an explanation from the janitor. “Well, the lock on the door was changed,” the janitor could reasonably respond. “And I couldn’t get a key.”
The janitor’s response is reasonable. It’s an understandable excuse. The janitor can’t do his job without a key. As a janitor, he’s allowed to have excuses.
“When you’re the janitor, reasons matter,” Jobs told his newly-minted VPs. “Somewhere between the janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering.”
Jobs’s point was profound. As an employee climbs the ladder of responsibility, the luxury of having excuses disappears. A Vice President is responsible for any and all failures within their domain, period. It doesn’t matter what you say or what the “reason” is. The responsibility is absolute.
Your “Ifs” Don’t Matter, Your “Results” Do ✅
This is the critical mindset shift that defines a top performer. They have mentally moved from the role of the janitor to that of the VP. They understand that excuses, no matter how valid, are a distraction from the goal. They take absolute ownership of the outcome.
Never make excuses. 🚫
Never list reasons. 🚫
Ultimately, your boss, your clients, and your customers are not interested in hearing your “ifs.” They only want to know your “results.”
That is the difference that makes all the difference. ✨