Is Your “Question” Really Just An Excuse?

Do you really need to ask that question?

I was at the gym in Barcelona and we had a 1000m rowing test.

I like to think I’m pretty good at rowing, but it’s been a while and my endurance is way off – I know I could go hard at a 1:30 pace, but I didn’t know how long I could hang out there.

So I was going to ask the coach about his best advice on pacing for the challenge. Then, in the half-second where I was translating my question to Spanish in my head, I realized what I was really doing.

And it was obvious.

I wasn’t looking for advice.

I was looking for an out.

An excuse.

A reason to not go balls to the walls for the less-than-four-minutes that it would take.

When I realized that, the answer to my “question” was pretty obvious.

What’s the strategy?

Row as hard as you can for 1000m and try not to puke.

If you’re not happy with your time, do it again and again until you get better.

So then I just got pissed and did the thing.

Row as hard as you can for 1000m and try not to puke.

If that sounds familiar, it’s not unique to me.

I see this all the time.

• Someone asks 10 questions about a product they have no intention of buying (or executing on) instead of just purchasing it: (answer: buy it, try it, and use the refund policy if it doesn’t suit you).
• Someone asks how hard they should do a specific workout test that’s designed to test you: (answer: as hard as you can – it’s supposed to be a #@$% test!)
• Someone asks how cold the shower should be: (answer: as cold as it can possibly be).

I get it. Some questions need to be asked. They can vault you past the place where you’re stuck, or take you to the nice level.

So consider this the disclaimer:

Advice is good.

Mentorship is great.

Wisdom is incredible.

But are the questions you asking those types of questions? Or are they just excuses in disguise? Are they thinly veiled “safe outs” for you? Are you asking a question or just poking and prodding for a reason to hold back, to stay comfortable, and not have to do the work and find out for yourself?

So yes, advice, mentorship, wisdom – all great things.

But you know what’s better than wisdom?

BALLS

And for 80% of questions, it’s really just an excuse in disguise. You don’t need more answers. You need more balls.

Do you really need to ask that question?

Or are you just looking for an out?

80% of the time, that question is really just an excuse in disguise.

— Joel Runyon (@joelrunyon) August 31, 2018

So next time you’re about to ask a question you may or may not really need to ask, try closing your eyes for 4 minutes and go balls to the wall for a little bit.

When it’s over, you’ll know a lot more.