The One Word I Ban in My Coaching and Why Dave Asprey Agrees It Sabotages Success

People who know me well know I cannot stand the word "try."

My clients know it. My team knows it. My kids know it. My friends know it. The word try gives you an automatic out. It lets your brain start navigating and distracting before you even get going. It is a built-in escape hatch disguised as effort.

Yesterday I was deep in Dave Asprey's book Game Changers and came across his concept of Weasel Words. I felt like he was reading my mind.

Dave identifies four words he believes silently sabotage you: try, can't, need, and bad. Every single one hands your power over before you even start. "I'll try to eat better." "I can't lose weight." "I need to be perfect." Sound familiar? As a coaching tool, targeting these words that sabotage success is one of the fastest ways to shift someone's mindset.

Try is the one I go after hardest when I coach people. The moment someone says "I'll try to stay on plan this week," I stop them right there. Because trying is not a commitment. It is a maybe dressed up as a yes.

Your brain believes what you tell it. So stop giving it a way out.

Don't try. Decide.