Customer Reviews

No Excuse! Incorporating Core Values, Accountability, and Balance into Your Life and Career

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Author Jay Rifenbary is a former West Point cadet, sales professional and corporate manager. As a professional speaker, consultant and president of a training and development center, he has a powerful message for readers of this book. Stop making excuses and begin to accept responsibility for everything you do. No Excuse! is enjoyable to read because of the raw energy and enthusiasm that it imparts. Rifenbary writes well and provides his personal philosophies to help the reader discover their ability to achieve success and fulfillment. His philosophy is a variant of servant leadership principles including the deep desire to serve others, accountability and valuing people more than wealth or power.

No Excuse! begins with one of the most dramatic prologues I have ever read. It not only introduces the book extremely well, but the author returns to his "special experience" in the epilogue also. The underpinning of his philosophy is borrowed from his days at West Point when "No Excuse, Sir" was one of the few answers a plebe was allowed to utter as a response to an upperclassman. Rifenbary exclaims, "We may get down on ourselves and use certain excuses to relinquish responsibility. That's exactly what excuses are used for; to avoid doing something or to "pass-the-buck". I dare you to make a list. Then when you hear yourself or others making an excuse, simply say, "No Excuse!''"

The book is divided into 2 parts comprised of 14 chapters. Part 1 lays the foundation of the author's no excuse philosophy with a discussion of the principles of self-responsibility, purpose and integrity. He considers this an important preparation for what he coins the Staircase-of-Success or THESAURUS factor presented in Part 2 of the book. Rifenbary takes each letter in the word THESAURUS and uses it as a step to teach an important point or principle. A total of 9 steps take the reader up the Staircase-of-Success. For example, the first step is "Totally Forgive" (Chapter 5) and it ponders the liberating influence that complete forgiveness allows when we forgive others and ourselves of faults and transgressions. When someone embraces total forgiveness there is no longer room for complaining or blaming because the person takes charge, and gains greater control over their life. No Excuse! is not simply a book to read, but it employs many tools to stimulate thought and action from the reader. Rifenbary uses many parables or stories to highlight his points. He also provides an Action Plan at the end of most chapters along with some charts and his own personality indicator.

No Excuse! is an enjoyable book to read. It may not break new ground or provide a radical new leadership philosophy, but it is certainly encouraging to read. As a result of Rifenbary's gift of clarity and printed energy, you will believe and know that change is possible in your life. If you are interested in discovering servant leadership principles presented in a dynamic and motivational book, you have no excuse... you will want to read this book.

nevertheless. I found myself unable to relate to a lot of the military examples but the lessons taught are powerful. Good book but I think my husband would enjoy it more then I.

After seeing Jay Rifenbary at a recent conference in Newport Beach, and crying through the entire speech, I purchased the book. This is the most exceptional man and he will change your life by the words in this book. I no longer will live my life with excuses for every bad moment and blame everyone else for what I alone created. This is a must read for professionals and families. No Excuse! Buy this book!

Read lots of great books. This is the text for them all. :-

This book is absolutely awesome! It basically combines all the information from all of the classics, including Think and Grow Rich, How to Win Friends and Influence People, etc. I haven't even finished the book yet, but it's addicting. I've ran through 2 highlighters already, and I'm only a little of 3/4 of the way through it! This book is a GEM!

Jay's message needs to be heard and read by everyone, NO EXCUSE! I wish he would write another -- there MUST be more he has to say!

This book has given me a new look at life. I am realizing changes that need to be made to ensure excellence and productivity in my life. This book makes good sense -- it's one I'll probably read once a year just to remind myself of the good points made

Jay Rifenbary is a great motivational speaker. He did an opening speech at a conference that was held at my college and it was one of the best speeches I've heard. Hence, I went and purchased his book...In terms of shipping and condition: the shipping was quite expedite and the condition was as advertised. I am pleased with this purchase.

This was the first of many books I have read over the past 15 years, and is one of the most outstanding and memorable lessons. No Excuse!
The attitude of accepting responsibility for one's actions is a core value that when adopted allows individuals to make huge progress in communication, career, and relationships. When responsibility for actions is accepted there is no blame. Only then is there total control where not only does one take ownership of outcomes but also the rewards that result.
This book has been most impactful and highly recommended.

This is a book with solid ideas, ideas that have worked for others and will work for you. If your into self-betterment, Read This Book, it is the only one you'll need. I've read it once and I'm reading it again.