Bulldoze the Excuses — A Story About What's Really Possible

For the last thirteen years, I've spent time as a mentor for graduating seniors at both Washington State University and Seattle University. At this point, I can tell you who is going to be successful post-college with a better-than-average guess, solely based on how the students follow up, show up, and put effort into learning.

Last year, I was assigned an international student from Mexico named Alexa. Within five minutes of our first call together, she told me her goal was to open a preschool in Seattle. Yesterday, she made that dream come true.

I meet a lot of people with big goals. Some goals are realistic, and some are "one day" goals — things people dream about without putting action plans behind. Alexa falls into the "get out of my way, we're doing this" category.

She announced her school: Bilingual Beginnings, an early childhood education center in Seattle.

Five months ago, she messaged me saying she found a location in Magnolia — a well-known, high-traffic, sought-after neighborhood in Seattle. She had a building she wanted to secure but needed funding, a business plan, and recommendation letters. I was more than happy to help, but I wasn't 100% sure this location was going to work. I figured it would be near impossible to secure.

Nope. Not for Alexa. She told me she was going to do whatever it took to make it happen. And she did. She secured the space.

When I witness stories like this come to reality, it causes me to turn the tables on my own community and ask: what is holding you back?

Alexa worked multiple jobs through college to save enough money. She networked with enough people. She signed up for mentoring programs. She learned how to find a way to make her dreams come true. At 24 years old, she is opening up her dream business.

She didn't wait for the perfect moment. She bulldozed right past the excuses that hold all of us back. She didn't sit back hoping someone else would give her permission. She made steady progress. She took the time to learn what she didn't know, asked for help when she was stuck, and stayed focused when things got uncomfortable.

There are always reasons not to take a leap. Your financial situation, your confidence, your workload, your fear of failure. These reasons will always feel valid. But at some point, you have to decide what matters more — staying comfortable or seeing what could happen if you actually commit.

You don't need to know every step before you take the first one. You just need to be willing to move. If you've been stuck or waiting, let this be your reminder. The progress you want is built on decisions you make today. Ask yourself what matters most. Then be honest about what you've been avoiding.