You know how, when you have a cold, you just don’t feel like doing anything? There’s the coughing, the sniffling, the sore throat—and they all combine to create a mood of general lethargy. Well, welcome to my world! That’s where I’ve been for the past week. And you know what I found out? Having a cold makes a great excuse! “No, I can’t go to that party…I have a cold.” “Sorry, can’t talk on the phone now…I have a cold.” “I’m taking a few days off from work…I have a cold.” It works like a charm! And who can blame you? This is the Year of the Swine Flu, and nobody wants you around when you’re sick. So I’ve been using my cold as an excuse to cut back drastically on the work I know I really should be doing.

But I blew it.

How did I blow it?

I listened to the Beatles’ recording of Twist and Shout.

See, the problem is that I know a thing or two about the Beatles, and one of the things I know about them is that when they recorded Twist and Shout, the lead vocalist, John Lennon, felt worse than I do right now. The entire band had colds, and Lennon had a very sore throat. But rather than use their colds as an excuse to take the day off, the Beatles went into the recording studio and recorded Twist and Shout. But they didn’t record just that song—they recorded their entire first album, in one day, while they were sick. And the very next day they played two shows in two different cities.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you go to work and infect other people while you’re sick. And I’m not suggesting that you put in a 16-hour day while your body is trying to heal. What I am suggesting, though, is that, like the Beatles, you may be capable of a lot more than you thought—even when you’re not operating at 100%.

Yes, having a cold makes a great excuse. And you know what? The competition loves your excuses!

Don’t give the competition a reason to smile. Listen to Twist and Shout, and then get back to work!