BEFORE YOU QUIT, READ THIS FIRST

I often hear people say, if you are doing what you like, you will not want to quit.

I don’t agree with this analogy. The desire to want to quit does not only happen when you are unhappy. It can happen when you feel overwhelmed with doing that thing you love.  Anxiety and depression do not only happen when we are sad.

I have had times in my life, even very recently that I felt like quitting and giving up. Life was good, everything was ticking along just fine, if anything, I was in my ZEN.

The feeling was similar to what I felt when my fiddle fig leaf plant died. Native to the rainforests of western and central Africa(especially Gabon and Liberia), the Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaf is a stunning plant with huge green leaves and an even larger following of houseplant fans. I really had a spot for this plant to the extent I named her Ophelia. Probably because it originates in West Africa and gave me a sense of home.

After a couple of days of bringing Ophelia home, she wasn’t doing as well as the other plants were doing. Ophelia began to wither. I tried watering Ophelia some more but she wasn’t responding positively to all my care even those I researched. It got really bad that my husband suggested I throw it away but I refused to. I believed she was going to be my phoenix.

It is noteworthy to mention that I got Ophelia in January. So, for February and March including April, I didn’t see Ophelia bloom. At this point, I was really disappointed and sad. I really wanted her to live and I had hope that she will, so I didn’t throw her away.

Then in the first weeks of May, I woke up and checked on Ophelia and saw a tiny leaf that was protruding. She didn’t die. Ophelia is alive. She is growing and I was really excited.

As tiny as it may seem, Ophelia gave me the lesson of not quitting. Of not giving up and to keep going. From her, I was reminded of things to do when you feel like quitting even if progress is slow or the goal is out of sight. Here are some

6 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU WANT TO QUIT

1. Go Back To ‘Why’

   I always go back to my WHY. Occasionally, we start with one vision in mind and end up moving so far away from why we started a business, job, or relationship in the first place that we end up lost and questioning our decisions and actions. Maybe you can’t remember the last time you were happy. Perhaps your big colorful picture of where you wanted to head has slowly turned to black and white. Get back that clarity! Create a worksheet and write the reasons why you began. Then every 90 days, revisit your big ‘why’ to ensure you’re on track and achieving what you want.

2. Learn to Feel Uncomfortable

   Life is not easy nor is it meant to be. We are always facing hurdles and obstacles that we must overcome, which is all part of the journey. If you can accept that things will get tough and it won’t always be roses and sweet-smelling kittens, you’ll get yourself better prepared for what’s to come.

   When you feel stuck in a rut, you must learn to breathe, reset and revisit your goals. What is it that you’re going for in business and in life? A simple readjustment and a brief ‘time out’ can dramatically move you forward like you never thought possible.

3. DON’T QUIT Win Through Persistence

   Winston Churchill said,

   “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.”

   Persistence is the key if you want to win. I’ve felt like giving up many times during my entrepreneurial journey and the persistence to make things happen has kept me going. Understanding and truly believing that persistence delivers results will keep you moving forward.

4.  Share Your Goals

   You wake up and decide that today is the day you’ll quit procrastinating. You start the morning strong, but don’t want to mention it to anyone at work in case you feel like lazing about in the afternoon. Find an ‘accountability buddy‘ to keep you on track. Sure, this is scary, but it ensures you deliver on your promise to yourself. Make sure the other person will show you some tough love. This will keep you honest and continually taking action.

5. Be Proud

   Sometimes, we forget to stop and smell the flowers. Along those lines, we also forget to celebrate the victories our efforts have created.

   Be proud of where you have come from and what you’ve achieved. Every 90 days, review the last three months and soak up your achievements no matter how small they are.

The next time you feel like giving up, ask yourself if you’ve done everything possible in your current situation to maximize the opportunity. Have you experienced all the learnings, happiness, and pain associated with what you want to achieve? If the answer is no, then keep going until you have!