I've missed a few posts the last two weeks.

Family came to visit over the Memorial holiday. Work got a little crazy.

Normally, I don't act this way. If I say Professor Ad Man posts three days a week, you expect to see something three days a week.

Normally, I don't act this way.

How many times have you used that excuse?

If someone asks for your resume and portfolio and you deliver it to them days, if not weeks, later. And then you say, "Normally, I don't act this way..." Then you give them your excuse.

Or, you take on a freelance job and deliver late...

Or, promise to call someone or return a call and don't...

When you use that excuse, it's generally given to people who don't know you well. They don't know that normally dependable person you claim to be.

Now undependable is their first impression of you. Good luck trying to gain their trust. Or get that job.

According to my stats, my readership dropped about three percent this week, because I failed to meet their expectations. Some of them were new readers who gave me a chance and may never return. Others were regulars, who may think the Prof couldn't keep up the pace – he ran out of stuff to say. And there are plenty of other things to check out on the Internet.

We're all human. We all have bad days. But you still have to accept the fact that some don't want your excuses. They want results.

So the Prof is back.

I hope those readers will be back.

If not, I accept the consequences and choose to learn from them.

And every time you use that excuse, I hope you will learn from it too.