Sorry.

The words that are often used when there is a faux pas. When there is a shortfall on either side, be it professionally or personally, fat-a-fat comes the word - "I'm Sorry"

I have a bit of a pet peeve around the word, because it often gets used as a "get out of the situation" word. Something to diffuse the situation and move on; an excuse and a primordial way of moving to the next step without having to deal with what just happened.

Don't folks deserve second chances? Don't we all mess up? We do. But here is the deal.

When you say sorry, there is both an apology and a stern promise. An apology for what happened, and a promise that this would never happen again.

Without the promise to improve, to make amends, to do your very best to never put both parties in the same situation - that apology means very little and that "sorry" is an excuse.

Stop saying sorry, if you don't mean it. You'd be doing everyone a favor too.

I have to consciously remind myself of this, everyday. When I screw up, I carefully have to consider whether I am really sorry, or if it was intended that way. If I made a conscious choice somewhere to do something which has led me here, then ... Im NOT sorry. And I would just need to deal with the consequences... Perhaps the inevitable fallout. But I did make that decision.

It is social convention that say, If I screwup on an arrangement that we had and I apologize then you accept it - but only if the sorry is an apology and a promise. If it is an excuse, well then you have a decision to make.

Social protocols are important. It is upon which everything is built, and whether we get to work together or not is determined, isn't it?

We all have much choices that I have to be the best version of myself for you to give me a chance of working together and making something great come out of it. Thats our social contract, No?

Time is the most scarce resource. Not money.