If at first, you dont succeed, try, have another go.
There are so many sayings with the same basic message: quitting is bad.
This idea is instilled in kids, internalized by adults, and generally just considered common sense.
Its also often wrong.
I once had a job that, in retrospect, I should have quit earlier.
When I finally left, I was happier, more productive, and better off.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
I quit, and then I prospered.
Why did I keep doing a job that wasnt working for so longeven when I had other options?
Because of the prevailing cultural norm that quitting is bad.
I felt like walking away would be a failure on my part, so I put off doing it.
This idea that quitting is bad deserves to be questioned.
The sunk cost fallacy is real
Lets lower the stakes a little.
My Zapier coworker Katie recentlytold methat she used to force herself to finish books she hated.
Wouldnt that time and money be wasted otherwise?
It sounds logical, but it isnt.
Thats not true: your time is already gone, regardless of how you spend it going forward.
Becausethatswhat you could control.
You could spend time reading something you actually enjoy but only if you quit reading the thing you hate.
Its also not true that the time you spent reading the book was wasted if you stop reading.
You learned something about the kinds of books you dont like, which is a good thing to know.
You also tried something new, which is valuable in and of itself.
These results apply regardless of whether you finish the book.
Youll be better off.
After all, quitting means admitting that something isnt working, and thats a really hard line to cross.
Its way too easy for this mentality to lead to spinning your wheels on something thats not working.
I quit, and I am much better for it now!
Very happy and my current role is much more aligned with my interests and skill set.
But not every time.
This isnt just true when it comes to reading books or doing your job.
Its true in every aspect of your life.
Knowing when to walk away is an essential life skill.
Keep this in mind, and maybe be a little less afraid of quitting in the future.
This article by Justin Pot was originally published on theZapier blogand is republished here with permission.
you’ve got the option to read the original articlehere.
He loves technology, people, and nature, not necessarily in that order.
you could follow Justin:@jhpot.
You don’t have to.
But you’ve got the option to.
