Knowing When To Quit

There is NO HONOR in quitting! Don’t be a sissy

Are you quitting because you’re a sissy? Or is time to move on?

I was asked a great question on twitter. “What does time frame play in your definition of sissy?”

Here’s how I think about this… context would matter

I would ask these questions to myself:

-Have I fully exhausted all of my efforts?

How many times have you started something and quit after a few weeks? “I guess this wasn’t for me” No homie. You’ve exhausted but a couple efforts. There’s hundreds more to go. But in order to go it will be very uncomfortable and possibly unconventional. Also, it wont always make sense on paper. Go anyways!

-Do I have a strong enough understanding on this to quit? ..Or do I need to learn more?

Before I ever think about quitting…. I think I need to know MORE. It’s easy to quit on things you know little about. The deeper you go in the rabbit hole the greater you’ll understand the process. (Remember this line… it comes up again later in the blog post) It’s human nature to make fun of things we don’t understand. To look down on things we don’t understand. To run from things we don’t understand. If I’m throwing in the towel I better fully understand the reasons WHY.

-Have I really given this my all?

This is such a nuanced question. People will say “I train hard” until they train with someone who trains hard. People will say “I work hard” till they work with someone who works hard. The only way to know if you’re really giving it your all is to surround yourself with people who at the levels you want to be. Networking, coaching, mentorship. There’s a reason why those at the top levels are doing this!

I don’t think the Decision to “quit” is bound to time… of effort.

Been talking about this for years! Most goals fail because of unrealistic timelines! People grossly overestimate what they can do in a day and grossly underestimate what they can do in a year. Now add 3 more years to that! I know many homies who gave up on their business or personal health back in 2020. If they would have stayed on track they would have been very successful by now. They didn’t lack skills or understanding. They lacked endurance! They lacked effort*

A real reason to “quit”

I’ve “quit” on many things in my business and life over the years. I want to use quit lightly. I don’t even think it’s the right word but for the sake of this message I’ll use it.

A quick example… I quit on many different business endeavors when it stopped making sense… Both could be from a finical standpoint but also a time and energy. My money and time was better used in other areas of the business.

Another would be… I quit powerlifting after 15+ years to try my hand at a different style of fitness. - I didn’t feel like a quitter tho… it felt like that next natural step in my progression

To me… I believe it’s clear in my mind and chest when I am moving on from something and when I’m quitting early on something.

I believe we all need this discernment. I’f I am ever lacking clarity on decision I:

-Stop eating food (start a fast)

-Think long and often.. usually in the quietness of nature and stillness of my mornings

-I write about it

-I get off line

-I do long darkness mediations. 30-60min. But also at one time I set in total darkness for 5 days*

-I consult with 1-2 very trusted people. (My wife who knows and supports me greatly. A mentor who is unemotional about my decisions and can offer different perspectives and play devils advocate as needed)

You tracking with me?

I don’t think time has much to do with me quitting on things. I’ve made some decision in business that I quit on in 3 months. It was obviously not the right move. I’m not going to force it for my ego to feel good. NOPE. Got the data… adjusted to it! On the other side… It’s taken 3-4 years for business projects to get where I wanted them. It was HARD the whole time. Grinding on these things year after year. Many months would seem like little progress (though looking back, it was great progress in those tough months. All part of the process!)

Big vision

I’ve always had big vision. Better word for it… a long* vision. I think about going after goals in a multi year processes. For example… when I started doing endurance events in 2021 I did a sprint triathlon. 2022 a full Ironman. 2023 50k runs and rucks. 2024 50k runs and 100k ruck and 71 mile run… 2025? We’ll see! The long goal? 100mile race. But the one I have in my back pocket (that I haven’t shared until now) is a 100 mile ruck! When will I achieve this? It hasn’t even became a thought yet. I’m so wrapped up in the process and aware of where I’m at. I know it wont be today or this month! I’d be hard pressed to say it will even be this year. I don’t care much about the time of it. I’m focused on better understanding my body and the approach that I am taking. I’m focused on the food that I eat. I’m focused on the training I do. I’m focused on my mindset in the day to day. I’m more focused on what I’m doing in my free time today. Not what I’m going to do in some distant future time. That time may never come to me… anything can happen… I gotta stay locked in right now! Now when my body gives me data day to day and week to week I make adjustments and keep going. If the adjustment that I’m making means it will take LONGER to reach that 100 mile goal- we’ll, so be it! If that goal was tied to time then I would feel discouraged. I would not be going after my goals in positive energy and for the love of the process. Rather, I would be going after the goal in anxious energy. Like I’m behind! Can’t you see? Better yet… can you feel it?

Now you can say.. “BUT YOU NEED DEADLINES or you’ll be lazy”

Woah woah woah…

That could be true about YOU. You might need deadlines. Or some sense of urgency or else you’ll get lazy* But then again… I would start to question your understanding of the process. Like I said before… most of you have unrealistic timelines on goals! Therefore you lack understanding of the process. If its process you need greater understanding on… Shouldn’t you be focused on that? And not outcomes?

Do Hard Things