From Procrastination to Action: How the Minions Use the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin
- Bruce Schutter
- Oct 25
- 5 min read
It happened on a Thursday. One of those days when the diet soda didn’t motivate, the to-do list looked like an encyclopedia and I found myself scrolling endlessly while pretending it counted as productivity.
And then I heard it — the unmistakable sound of chaos barreling toward me.
"BRUUUUUUUCE!!"
A blur of yellow crashed through my front yard. It was the Minions — wild-eyed, banana-fueled and bouncing with excitement. Kevin was waving a shiny coin in the air, while Bob trailed behind, sipping a juice box and carrying a folder that read: “Warrior Innovation Division.”
They burst into my living room like a mission was underway.
“We made a NEW way to use the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin!” Kevin shouted.
“To turn Procrastination into Action!”
They Know My Story
If you’re wondering why the Minions keep showing up at my house with mental health tools, here’s the backstory:
For 20 years, I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. At my lowest point, I felt completely powerless — so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that darkness, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that realization, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge! So you can take command of your emotions, triumph over your challenges and build the life you really want.
One of the program’s core tools is the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin — a small but mighty reminder of your inner strength. You can carry it in your pocket, hold it during tough moments, or set it on your desk as a symbol of focus, courage and progress.
Apparently, the Minions have been paying attention. And, in true Minion fashion, they’ve decided to upgrade the mission — by inventing their own wild (but surprisingly effective) way to use the coin.
The “Results or Excuses” Tool
Despite their chaotic energy — launching themselves from cannons, chasing villains, and occasionally blowing up kitchens — the Minions admitted something surprising. When they’re faced with big, overwhelming problems… they procrastinate.
Sound familiar? I knew that trap all too well.
They confessed they’d sit, stare, snack and spiral. But then they remembered something from the Warrior Program: the coin isn’t just for grounding or motivation — it’s a decision-maker.
So, in true Minion fashion, they created a clever (and slightly explosive) new way to use it: to stop procrastination and move forward!
Kevin held up the coin dramatically and announced, “When we face something hard, we hold the coin, feel its weight, and choose: RESULTS or EXCUSES. But you can only pick one!”
It’s like flipping a coin to make a decision — except instead of leaving it to fate, the coin reminds you that the power’s in your hands. Take action and get results… or sit in excuses and stay stuck.
The brilliance of their method is in its simplicity: We procrastinate because our brains convince us that doing nothing is safer.
But the coin cuts through the noise, centers your focus and guides you toward your Warrior response — the decision to rise, act and reclaim momentum!
Three Minion Examples of Using this New Tool
Example 1: Stop the “Anxiety Spiral”
Stuart shared: "When my brain goes boom-boom with too many worries, I sit in the closet with a juice box. But then I grab my coin, feel its weight, and whisper: Results or Excuses?
Then I write down ONE worry and take ONE action. That stops anxiety from spiraling and taking over my day!"
Our Turn:
I’ve used this same method myself — more times than I can count.
When anxiety starts to build, and my brain begins running worst-case scenarios like it’s auditioning for a disaster movie, I grab my Mental Health Warrior Coin. I feel its solid weight in my hand and take one slow, steady breath.
Then I ask myself out loud: “Results or Excuses?”
That question snaps me out of the spiral. It reminds me that I still have power — that I get to choose how this moment goes.
Sometimes the “result” is simple: sending one email I’ve been avoiding, writing one sentence in a project, or taking a quick walk to reset. But every small action breaks anxiety’s grip and replaces chaos with control.
Example 2: Climb Out of the “Why Bother” Trap
“Some days… I no wanna move,” Bob groaned, collapsing dramatically onto my couch. “Feel like… wet sock.”
He flopped over with the intensity of someone who’d just run a marathon — or dropped his last banana. Then, slowly, he held up the coin.
“But then I hold coin. Results or Excuses? Then I stand. Sock on. Toast made. Juice box. Boom. Not stuck anymore — just Results!”
Kevin clapped. Stuart cheered. And just like that, Bob’s breakfast became a full-blown Warrior celebration.
Because in their world — and ours — every small step forward counts.
Our Turn:
I’ve had my share of “wet sock” days — those mornings when the world feels heavy before my feet even hit the ground.
That’s when I grab my Mental Health Warrior Coin. I hold it tight, feel its cool weight in my hand, and ask the same question the Minions do: “Results or Excuses?”
Nine times out of ten, that one question gets me moving. Maybe I don’t conquer the world right away — but I can sit up, get my diet soda, feed the cat or step outside for a breath of fresh air.
The coin becomes my grounding anchor — a tactile cue that cuts through the fog of inaction. It pulls me back to the present moment and gives me one simple, doable choice I can take right now.
Each tiny win — no matter how small — lifts my mood, rebuilds confidence and restores my sense of control.
Example 3: Stop the “Overwhelm Avalanche”
Kevin threw his arms up. “So many missions! Too many beeps! I yell into pillow!”
Bob nodded sympathetically, sipping his juice box. “We all heard you, buddy.”
Kevin continued, “But then I grab my coin and choose one small action I can take. Like… clean ONE table. Then I feel lighter — because results are louder than excuses.”
The other Minions applauded like he’d just saved the world. Maybe, in a way, he had.
Our Turn:
I know that avalanche feeling too well — the one where every demand crashes down at once until your brain just… freezes.
When that happens, I grab my Mental Health Warrior Coin, take a slow breath, and feel its solid weight in my palm. Then I ask myself the same question Kevin does: “Results or Excuses?”
From there, I pick one simple, doable action. Maybe I answer a single email, organize my desk, or walk outside for five minutes.
And something amazing happens — momentum returns.
Because that one small step shifts my focus from everything I can’t control to the one thing I can. The coin becomes my mental reset button — cutting through the noise and bringing me back to the present moment.
Wrap up
Before they left, I reached into my bag and handed each Minion a Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin — with one simple mission: pass it on to a friend who needs it.
“Share the tool. Share the choice,” I said. “Because every Warrior deserves a reminder that they’re in charge.”
So, the next time you’re staring down a challenge — that task you keep putting off, that goal that feels too big, or that moment whispering “not now” — reach for your Warrior Coin.
Hold it. Feel its weight. And ask yourself: Results or Excuses?
That’s your turning point — the exact second you shift from hesitation to action.
Because as a Mental Health Warrior, you’re not waiting for courage —you’re creating it, one choice at a time!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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