About this quote

When you blame your boss or the economy for your flat bank account, you stop looking at the person who can actually fix your life. Real growth starts when someone you respect calls you out on your excuses. It hurts to hear that your current situation is your own fault. But that realization is actually freeing because it means you are in control. If you caused the mess, you have the power to clean it up.

When to use it

• My brother was complaining about his massive credit card debt again, and I had to tell him, 'Look, you bought those concert tickets and expensive dinners, you messed up.'
• After missing another project deadline because I kept procrastinating, my supervisor sat me down and said I had seriously messed up my priorities.
• I was whining about not losing weight while secretly eating fast food at night, and my trainer looked me in the eye and said I was messing up my own progress.
• My wife and I got into a huge fight because I forgot our anniversary, and I realized I had messed up big time by not putting it in my calendar.