Photo credit: fuzzcat
I may be stoned to death for writing this because it goes against everything we’ve been taught, but I will anyway (I like breaking rules).
Quitting is not only good, but you should quit all the time. Yes, quit all the time, but “quitters never win”…quitters do win and win a lot and I intend to prove that.
This isn’t a crack pot theory I constructed after a long night of binging on beer and fried chicken. I actually got this idea from reputable source, a book by Seth Godin called “The Dip” Seth is a highly respected writer, entrepreneur and triple A list blogger…just to name a few. He did a great job of breaking it down so I won’t do a summery of book, however, I will highlight the key points.
Seth argues that, “winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt-until they commit to beating the right Dip”. The dip is, by Seths definition, the hurdles and challenges (Hard work) that most people aren’t willing or able to overcome and generally quit when they reach them. The people and the businesses that get past the dip are the ones on top, the winners.
I’m not saying that quitting is always good, there is a right way and a wrong way…I’m going to focus on the right way. Just for comparison, there is two major ways that loser’s (the wrong quitters) screw up. One, they get to the hard part and give up or they are in the wrong game all together. For example, a sumo wrestler that wants to be a tennis player (that’s an obvious analogy right?). Now the right way…
Quitting the right way, actually quitting for the right reasons, I should say. Jack Welch has a saying that I think explains it very effectively.
“If you don’t have a competitive edge, don’t compete”- Jack Welch
That is a prime example when quitting is good. Your resources are better utilized in areas that you have a competitive advantage in. For example, if the sumo wrestler applied the same resources to both his tennis and sumo career. He could be a world class sumo wrestler or a less then mediocre tennis player. Why should he quit? He has no competitive advantage in the tennis world…for obvious reasons…I hope.
“What really sets superstars apart from everyone else is the ability to escape dead ends quickly, while staying focused and motivated when it really counts.”- Seth Godin
For example, in 1985 Coca-Cola decided to discontinue it’s classic formula and release “New Coke”. Three months later they went back to the original version, after some vocal public out cry. They could of stuck to their guns, after all they are the biggest soft drink company in the word. They decided to quit, would you call them a looser for that? I don’t think so…
There is another lesson to be learned from that situation. The market told them when it was time to quit, not the executives of Coke. On a large scale such as this, it’s easy to hear the market, what about on a smaller scale?
Let’s say for example, your a blogger with 5,000 readers. You built you reader base by writing about dogs, then your girl girlfriend gives you a cat for your birthday (what a ripoff). Turns out you like the dang thing so you start writing more about cats. Your readership drops down to 2,000, what happened? Your readers don’t give a crap about your cat…duh.
If you don’t quit then your done, your readership will quickly dwindle down to your mom and some weird cat lady. Your market told you that you better quit…you better listen. You may be the best cat writer out there, but your dog readers don’t care. Seth says it like this…
“If you’re doing your best, only your soccer coach cares. If you’re the best in the world, the market cares.”-Seth Godin
Although this article was written from a business perspective, the principles are applicable to our personal lives.
What do you think? Is quitting OK or do quitters never win?
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh I’m gonna stone you to death all right
but it’s because I’m a cat lover.
Really, this is a great post with a great point. Didn’t some guy (sorry I don’t know who) say to make mistakes early and make them often – that would be the fastest way to really get where we want to be. So if we find out we’ve made a mistake, I would think the best thing to do would be to quit that activity/career/whatever and aim again!
.-= cb´s last blog ..Introverts need time alone, but we can also get lonely =-.
Cat lover, so your one of those cat ladies huh.
I know exactly who you are talking about but for the life of me I can’t remember who said it. It’s kind of like in sales, you gotta have x amount of no’s before you get a yes. So if the the yes is worth $1,000 then every no is worth $100.
A little off topic but your comment made me think about that.
I grew up with cats and dogs, and later even horses, but now due to the fact that I sometimes go out of town overnight I am just a cat lady. Not yet old enough or isolated enough to be the Crazy Cat Lady, but I do aspire to having that title later.
.-= cb´s last blog ..Introverts need time alone, but we can also get lonely =-.
You’ve made a good point here, I agree when things are not working out like they should, reevaluate the situation and start from a new perspective, it doesn’t necessarily always mean your quiting, your playing the field. But obviously there are times when it is obvious you should quit some things. Nick you have some points that make me think, I like it, keep it up.
Thank you, my intention is to definitely make you think. It’s very easy to get lost in our own world and loose perspective.