You Can’t Push a Parked Car — So Stop Trying!


Let’s be real for a moment: trying to motivate someone who’s determined to sit in neutral is like trying to push a parked car uphill… with no engine, no steering wheel, and the emergency brake locked tight. Exhausting. Pointless. And sooner or later, you’re the one burnt out while the “car” is still exactly where you found it.




We’ve all met these folks—the ones with Olympic-level finger-pointing skills. If there were medals for blame and excuse-making, they’d have gold, silver, and bronze… and probably a fourth-place trophy they’d say was “stolen by the system.”


They say things like:


  • “The world’s against me.”
  • “Nobody gave me a chance.”
  • “If only I had what so-and-so had, I’d be ahead too.”



Yet when you offer advice, opportunity, or even a helping hand, suddenly they become Houdini—disappearing into thin air. Motivation? Never heard of it. Accountability? Not in their vocabulary.


You show them a ladder, and they complain the steps are too high.

You offer a ride, and they say the seat’s uncomfortable.

You invite them to a workshop, and they ghost you, only to post “No one ever helps me” on social media the next day.


And here’s the kicker: their complaints come with the same energy they could use to change their lives. But nope—ranting about “the unfairness of the world” somehow feels more productive than doing something about it.


Now let’s be clear—this isn’t about being heartless. We all go through tough seasons. But there’s a world of difference between someone who’s struggling and someone who’s stagnant by choice. The struggler is trying. The stagnant one just wants sympathy subscriptions and complaint coupons.


Here’s the truth: you can’t carry someone to their own success. You can offer a map, but they have to walk. You can hold a flashlight, but they still need to step forward. If they refuse to move, it’s not your job to drag them across the finish line. That’s called a rescue mission, not personal growth.


Sometimes, the best gift you can give someone is letting them sit with their consequences. Let the silence echo. Let reality knock. Let them miss the boat once or twice. Because maybe—just maybe—they’ll realize that complaining won’t build a bridge, and blaming the world won’t change the view.


So stop pushing parked cars. Find those already in motion, even if they’re crawling. Encourage the doers, the dreamers, the ones limping forward. Because effort beats excuses every time—and drive is something that can’t be outsourced.


Keep your engine running. Let the parked ones watch from the curb until they’re ready to turn the key.


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