We’ve all heard the old adage, “Winners never quit, quitters never win.” Is that really true? Does that mean that if you’re driving from Detroit to Miami and you suddenly realize you’re actually headed for Savannah you would simply continue on? Or even speed up? Or just “try harder?” Of course not – you would immediately correct your direction, even if it meant going back to Atlanta to get back on the right road.
Why is it that in jobs or businesses people often believe that if they just persist, somehow things will get better? And that they need to be loyal and never show signs of “giving up?”
Recently, I answered this question from Margaret:
“I would like to know what to do when you are working so hard and everything seems to continue to fail. Do you change plans or what?”
Quitting a job does not mean that you’re quitting your commitment to provide for your family. Quitting a business does not mean that you are walking away from the thrill of controlling your time and income. Quitting a ministry or non-profit organization does not mean that you’ve given up on your desire to change the world or help the less fortunate. 
Your job, business or ministry are just tactics to accomplish your bigger vision. Your “purpose” or “calling” define the big goal. If your job is clearly a dead end, it makes perfect sense to quit, take your skills to a better fit and release your ability to provide for your family. If your business is failing, learn from the experience and start in a new direction. I constantly have areas in my business and personal life that are on the bubble. If they are not proven successful in a very specific period of time – they’re gone – I quit but keep moving on to success in other ways.
Here are my recommendations:
- If your job provides nothing for you but a meager paycheck, plan to quit and be gone in the next 30 days.
- If you’ve been running your business for one year and after expenses it’s only netting you $500 a month, quit and find a new venture.
- If you started a non-profit and after two years you find that you’re spending 80% of your time on administrative work and have no real economic model for continuing, consider linking arms with an established organization.
Winners quit – they quit quickly and often. Yes I know we hear that quote about nothing matters but persistence, but if you’re a duck trying to climb a tree, all persistence will get you is web feet that are to sore to even swim well. Have the maturity and guts to quit the wrong things in your life.
While we’re at it, ask yourself if these well-known adages are always true:
- The customer is always right
- Everything happens for a reason
- Never judge a book by its cover
- You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder
- Better be safe than sorry
- Good fences make good neighbors
- You can’t have your cake and eat it too
- All’s well that ends well.
- Good things come to those who wait
- Time heals all wounds
- There’s no such thing as a stupid question
- You can’t have your cake and eat it too
I know I could give real life examples where each one of these is not true and I’m sure you could too. Trust me – “Winners never quit, quitters never win” is just a cliche. I think we could make a case for “Losers never quit, quitters never lose.” Don’t let commonly accepted clichés misdirect you from the unique path you are on. Find truth, live it out and pass it on to others.
Wow. If I followed this advice, I would never have started my micro-farm. This venture is anything but profitable especially in the first year as most any new farmer/rancher may tell you.
Here is another cliché “the trend is your friend.” Do you anticipate profitability in the future? If the business requires a longer lead time, then I hope you have another source of income to cover those lean couple years.
Such sound advice.
I especially like this line: Your job, business or ministry are just tactics to accomplish your bigger vision. Your “purpose” or “calling” define the big goal. If your job is clearly a dead end, it makes perfect sense to quit, take your skills to a better fit and release your ability to provide for your family. If your business is failing, learn from the experience and start in a new direction.
I spent a lot of years playing it safe, and found myself in a low paying, high stress, go nowhere position. I finally had enough and used the intelligence I had always possessed to do some math and figure out a better way. I took a couple of calculated risks in the past year, walked away from the drudgery, and now all kinds of doors are opening up to me that never would have never materialized if I had stayed trapped in that full time, life controlling, soul sucking job. Thank God I had the courage to jump off that ledge and be brave. It is paying off. I only wish I had done it years ago. I am meant for so much more!
Dan, I especially love how you challenge the status quo here! I think taking the time to do this every once in a while is not only important, but VITALLY NECESSARY to ensure we are in alignment with our true calling and purpose. Coming short of this would not only be a disservice to us but mankind in which we are to serve! Great Stuff!!