Quitters Sometimes Win. Winners Sometimes Quit.

We’ve all heard the saying a million times that “Quitters never win and winners never quit.”

It’s not true.

Strategic quitting is the only way that you can achieve what really matters in your life.

In her book, The Sweet Spot, Christine Carter writes,

“Not all mountains are worth climbing all the way to the top, especially if the costs of doing so are great. Sometimes the greatest cost comes from climbing the mountain to the top, only to look longingly down at another path you’ll always wished you’d followed.”

We can’t follow every path all the way to the top. We need to be selective.

When I started college, my major was accounting. After one year, it became clear to me that I didn’t have a passion for it, so I quit my major and selected a new one that aligned with my need to be creative.

When I started writing, I had four different blogs about different subjects. Maintaining them all was impossible and trying to do so was a prescription for failure across the board. So I quit most of them so I could focus intensely on one.

I’ve quit jobs, friends, relationships, sports and organizations. I no longer wanted to climb those mountains.

Quitting isn’t just about saying no to something. It’s about saying yes to something else.

So let’s reframe quitting:

I’ve quit jobs so I could say yes to work that aligned with my values.

I’ve quit friends who didn’t bring joy to my life so that I could spend more time with the people who meant the most to me.

I’ve quit relationships so I could respect myself.

I’ve quit sports when they stopped being a source of fulfillment so I could focus harder on the activities I was passionate about.

I’ve quit organizations when I was spread too thin, so I would have more time to dedicate to those of the highest importance.

Once you realize that you are climbing the wrong mountain, it’s ok to stop. And honestly, the sooner you do, the sooner you can reverse your path and get climbing the mountain that really matters to you.

We each have 24 hours in a day. That’s it. Use them wisely and quit when necessary.

Stop reading books that aren’t compelling. Say goodbye to toxic relationships. Don’t finish everything on your plate if you are full. Stop taking dance classes when you discover that you enjoy acting more. Stop doing things just because “quitters never win.”

Quit wisely and quit often because sometimes those that don’t quit are the ones who lose the most.

Photo credit:
Caroline Hernandez