I hear from a lot of people EXCUSES of playing the media game. 

Now I have an excuse not to. 

You may keep updating your client with legitimate delays and after a week, they think you are just a liar making up excuses. 

It doesn't excuse them not returning your calls as you get closer to the closing date, but it may explain it.  

It's a shame some make excuses, delay and screw things up for the parties rather than just saying "No thanks" early on.

They did not care about the 2 years of consistent employment history as I technically had an “excuse” being a college student.

The insurance company snd adjuster keeps making excuses and dragging the process a long.

So I have a general rule with tenants 2 srikes and your out - as in "I’ll pay on the 6th" (insert excuse) "oh I’ll pay the 15th" (insert excuse ), if 16th comes along and rent isn't paid  then I evict .

I was told by an investor that most sellers are becoming greedy right now and taking that as an excuse to price their property so high.

Automating follow up tasks so you have no excuse not to be getting back to people and making the mandatory amount of touches needed to get the listing/close the deal, and having someone hold you accountable.Being reachable/quick to respond (you or an assistant) at all times so you maximize all opportunities.Pick one method of marketing and do it, research it, learn it, dominate it, (whether its offline or online), find who is good at it and do what they do, so you always can depend on yourself for at least one method of new business.Check your fear meter.