When Should You Quit? 10 Questions to Help Provide Clarity.
In life, there are rarely clear street signs to guide us in the direction we want to travel. We decide on a destination, we get behind the wheel, we start driving in what we think is the correct direction, and we change course whenever we hit a dead end.
However, most of the time we don't hit an obvious dead-end. Typically we come to many intersections at which we could turn left, turn right, keep going straight, or even do a U-turn and go back the way we came...all options that could take us closer to our destination...or further away.
While we often do not know for certain if our decisions will take us where we want to go, there are questions we can ask at those critical intersections that could help steer us a little closer to home.
1. Are you enjoying the journey?
If so, don't quit even if you know you're not heading toward the destination you initially intended. Enjoy the ride. If not, quit.
2. Could you better enjoy the journey if you tried a little harder?
If so, don't quit. If not, quit.
3. Are you passionate about your journey?
If so, don't quit. If not, quit.
4. Do you have the passion but lack the talent?
If the destination is valuable enough to you, don't quit but accept the possibility of being mediocre. If the destination is not valuable enough to you, quit and focus on something for which you possess the talent and can excel.
5. Do you have the talent but lack the passion?
If so, quit. Without passion, even the most talented people will only go so far. Try and direct your talent toward something for which you are passionate. Unless you're enjoying the journey and you're okay with being mediocre, in which case don't quit.
6. Do you feel apathetic?
If consistently so, quit. If it's momentary, don't quit.
7. Are you ineffective?
If consistently so, quit. If it's momentary and you can overcome it, don't quit.
8. Are you overachieving?
If so, don't quit but consider where your talents might be better used. If not, quit. You lack the passion to do the necessary work.
9. Are you underachieving?
If the destination is valuable enough to you, don't quit but accept being less than average. If the destination is not valuable enough to you, quit yesterday.
10. If a gun was put to your head, and you had to decide in five seconds or die, would you quit?
Often we know the answer but fear the difficult steps it takes to quit or to continue on the journey.
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