chantix,
Remember, this post is about knowing when to give up on something that isn’t going to lead you to what you ultimately want. That requires quitting. No shame, no worry. Just smart tactics.

One thing I like to do is “quit” a way of doing things, and try a new approach.

The term is innately derogatory in peoples minds. Like the word “frugal” meaning “cheap”. “Quit” isn’t a bad word, it is just how you define it in your own mind that sets the stage… Maybe a better word would be “re-evaluate” that would drive people to know a specific path isn’t right for them…

good post.

If what you got going ain’t workin, change it.

Probably this, and most like it, are a variation on the Serenity Prayer, but they all basically mean the same thing, Constant and Diligent Self-Analysis.

Rock on.

Bill,
I’m glad you got it. Thanks. I do see quitting as being a positive thing – some of the time. The key, in this case, is to know what’s worth pushing through with and what’s not. And then not waste time on what’s not.

What most interests me, being a student of human consciousness, is the feat that seems to come up around the word ‘quitting.’ Why do you think that is?

I also enjoy the many nuances of words. Quitting does elicit many negative and even fearful connotations. Hence the reason I questioned its use. However, in your case, you consider it a positive action to quit and use it to motivate you to new things. Terrific!

And you probably achieved one of your goals-to get the attention and reactions of readers, (like me) by using the more inflammatory term “quit.” You got the double whammy! Congratulations

Yet I like to look at the word quit because it brings up such interesting responses in people – in me. We have these odd beliefs/fears, maybe that we can’t quit at something. Why? What’s wrong with quitting? Does it show some sort of weakness?

Don’t you find it interesting to look at the psychology behind words and how we use them – or avoid them?

I do not believe you quit either. You just change the conditions around you to get out of the slog. If someone does not consider altering the program they are in because it is not working then the real problems arise. Quitting as you call it, or altering direction as I call it is very smart. Not doing so is, well, use whatever term you want.

Yet what I see, and what Seth Godin presents in The Dip, is that Edison, for example, quite a thousand times before inventing the lightbulb. With each failure he could have continued in the same direction. But he didn’t. He recognized his dip and changed course.

The same can be said of life. Quitting doesn’t have to mean giving up. Rather it can mean doing things differently.

Love to hear what you think…

Skip,
Totally true. He talks about becoming the ‘best in the world.’ And the way of doing that for a highly specific niche is to push through the difficulties to reach success.

I presented this as sort of an ROI to get the conversation rolling. So glad you jumped in.

And since you made the point of making the decisions daily, what tools/concepts do you use to help in the process?

Rob,
There is. Let me know what you think.

rob,
Isn’t that where planning comes in?

Quitting, in Seth’s point, isn’t always about relief. Rather, it’s about intelligence. It’s about knowing when the end game isn’t worth the effort. And while that can certainly bring relief, it can cause anguish as well.

Thoughts?

Getting out of it and quitting just seems to be more difficult as you get drawn it. Quitting does at times give a huge feeling of relief

I guess I better go and buy Seth’s book.

First: I like Seth Godin’s book “The Dip”, so I was glad to see you mentioned it.

Secondly: For me, your post speaks to the idea of ROI. Time and energy are both resources, so we want to get the greatest return on investment of those resources. As Seth points out, it’s often best to push through “The Dip” and then you’ll be stronger on the other side because so many of your competitors will have given up.

At other times, it’s best to quit so you can get a better return elsewhere. I think it’s a decision that we all have to make daily, really.

I know, when something becomes a resource hog, it’s time for serious scrutiny; but what if I did invest everything in my life in this certain business of mine? What if it’s my childhood dream to do exactly *this*? Edisson would’ve never discovered light bulbs, had he given up too early. Took him lots and lots of experimenting, changing, retrying, analyzing, to find The Thing.

Every serious breakthrough in this world came after a period of trial-and-error longer than anyone would have expected. After much more effort than anyone would have considered worth it. But then again, only geniuses and tough people can work themselves to these extremes. For the rest of us, it’s “Quitting when the balance doesn’t incline anymore on our favour”.

Just my two cents