No Excuses: The Power of Putting Yourself Out There
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on the idea of putting yourself out there.
Take Tim Green. He’s a former NFL player, bestselling author, and father. Today, he lives with ALS as a quadriplegic, dependent on a trach, a feeding tube, and eye-tracking technology to communicate. Yet Tim has raised millions of dollars for ALS research. Despite having no physical voice, he has become one of the loudest voices for this fight.
Or consider Eric Dane. Many know him as an actor from Grey’s Anatomy or Euphoria. But Eric is also living with ALS. Instead of retreating, he has stepped forward to call for increased funding at a critical time—because we are closer than ever to treatments that may not only slow ALS but stop its progression.
Both men embody what it means to put yourself out there. They refuse to let their circumstances become excuses. And that resonates with me.
No Excuses
I live with ALS. My arms and legs are paralyzed. Every day depends on technology and support. But I don’t believe in excuses.
If I can do this with no arms and no legs—surely, you can do it too. If Tim Green can raise millions using only his eyes—surely, you can do it too. If Eric Dane can stand before the world and demand more funding—surely, you can do it too.
Excuses hold us back. Putting yourself out there creates impact.
Advocacy as Ecosystem
For me, advocacy isn’t just about my own needs. It’s about standing up for others who can’t. Many people with ALS don’t know what they’re entitled to, or can’t ask. By putting myself out there, I also raise their voices.
That’s what advocacy really is: supporting the ecosystem around you.
The Sales Connection
The same principle applies in sales. A salesperson who puts themselves out there doesn’t just benefit themselves. They generate revenue that supports the entire organization—fueling the engineers, designers, and staff who bring other talents to life.
Sales at its best isn’t transactional. It’s relational. It’s about becoming known, liked, and trusted.
- Known, because you show up.
- Liked, because you show up authentically.
- Trusted, because you follow through with honesty and integrity.
Conversations lead to relationships. Relationships uncover mutual needs. And by supporting each other, we grow together.
Associations and Industries
This principle extends to associations as well. Associations put themselves out there for their industries. They advocate. They expose vulnerabilities. And in doing so, they lift up the entire sector they represent.
Vulnerability as Strength
At the heart of all this is one truth: vulnerability is strength.
Tim Green shows it. Eric Dane shows it. And I try to show it too.
When we embrace our limitations, when we’re visible in our imperfection, we create connection. And that connection is the foundation for trust and transformation.
Closing Thought
So here’s the challenge: Stop making excuses. Put yourself out there. Be known, liked, and trusted. Build relationships. Identify mutual needs. Support one another.
Because whether in advocacy, sales, or association leadership, the result is the same: you don’t just create transactions—you create transformation.
About the author: Mark Wallach, MBA, is CEO Emeritus of Engagement Mobile Strategies and a leading expert on innovative mobile and digital technology in the association space. With over a decade of experience helping associations maximize member engagement and retention, he specializes in bridging generational gaps through accessible, integrated technology solutions. Based in Ashburn, Virginia, Mark advises organizations on strategic planning, collaborative partnerships, and digital transformation that drives measurable results. To contact Mark, feel free to email him at mark@engagementmobile.com.
