To Quit or not to Quit…

Have you ever noticed how “quitting” something can be both the hardest and easiest thing to do?

The word itself carries a heavy weight. Quitting often feels like the end of our intentions, the closing of a door we once opened with hope. It’s rarely a good feeling. It can leave us grappling with two extremes: relief or failure—depending entirely on what’s at stake.

Sometimes quitting is easy. We abandon a new habit, a diet, a fitness goal, a project, or even a job. Why? Because pushing through discomfort feels harder in the moment. These choices don’t challenge our pride when we let them go… and often we can quit internally without anyone even knowing. they simply fade away, leaving us back at square one.

But then there’s the quitting that cuts deeper…letting go of something that’s ingrained in us. A relationship, a business strategy that’s no longer working, or even a harmful habit like smoking. We cling to these things, convincing ourselves we can salvage them if we just hold on a little longer. Walking away feels like failure, even when we know deep down it’s the right move.

What about the term “quit while you’re ahead”. Man I have heard that a few hundred times at the casino…I’ve ignored it plenty of times.

Quitting and I have a complicated history. I’ve always resonated with Kenny Rogers line: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” It was like the greatest life lesson packed into a fun country song. I’ve never been one to give up easily, sometimes to my benefit and sometimes to my detriment. I’ve stayed in relationships longer than I should have. I’ve held on to employees I knew weren’t the right fit, hoping I could fix the situation. For a long time, I feared waking up to something new and uncomfortable… or just having to live with making “the wrong decision”…. Or even worse, Regret

But every time I made the tough decision to quit something that wasn’t serving me, it led to growth. It freed me. And every time I quit on myself…out of exhaustion or frustration…I regretted it deeply, knowing I could have done better. Over time, I’ve realized that life isn’t just about the choices you make… it’s about the action you take after the choice you make…That’s what defines the success of your decision.

“Success is often knowing what to avoid.” 

Sometimes, the biggest wins come from recognizing when you’re in a losing game and having the courage to fold. We spend so much energy trying to change what’s outside our control instead of focusing on what we can actually improve.

So, ask yourself: is holding on worth it? Or am I just worried about the unknown? The greatest skills you can develop is the art of decision making. The ability to master decisive action…while avoiding constantly second guessing your choices because you’re too busy living out the results of your choices. Sometimes quitting isn’t giving up…it’s freeing your time, energy, and focus for things that truly matter, even if they push you out of your comfort zone. When you know it’s time to walk away, give yourself the permission to do so. Growth often comes from knowing what’s worth your effort and letting go of the rest.

(But don’t you dare quit Mpire, I’ll lay behind your car for days so you can’t leave. Kidding…kinda.)

 Cheers Gang

John