Learning how to quit well is an important skill that can have a positive impact on your life. While perseverance and sticking to things are also important traits, knowing when and how to quit can help you avoid wasting time and resources on pursuits that are no longer serving you well.
This week, I welcomed former professional poker player and decision science expert Anne Duke on the Passion Struck podcast. Annie and I explored her latest book: Quit The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.
Why Should We Learn How to quit well?
It can help you redirect your time and energy
Sometimes we get stuck in a particular goal or pursuit, even if it no longer makes sense for us to continue. Learning to quit well can help us redirect our time and energy toward other, more productive and fulfilling pursuits.
It can help us avoid sunk costs fallacy
Sometimes we continue to invest time, money, and energy into something that no longer makes sense simply because we have already invested so much into it. This is known as the sunk cost fallacy. By learning to quit well, we can avoid falling into this trap and avoid wasting additional resources on something that is not working.
It can help us maintain our mental and emotional well-being
Continuously pursuing something that is not working can take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. By learning to quit well, we can consciously decide to let go of things that are causing us stress, anxiety, or unhappiness and prioritize our mental and emotional health.
It can help us grow and learn
Quitting is not always a negative thing. Sometimes it can be a sign that we have outgrown a particular pursuit or goal, and it’s time for us to move on to something that challenges us and helps us grow. Learning to quit well means being able to recognize when it’s time to move on and being open to new opportunities for growth and learning.
What Are the Benefits of Learning How to Quit Well?
Learning how to quit well can be vital to your success because it allows you to focus your time and energy on things that truly matter while avoiding the trap of sunk costs and dead-end pursuits.
Here are some reasons why learning how to quit well can be crucial for your success:
Learning How to Quit helps you avoid wasted time and resources
Pursuing something that is not working is a waste of time and resources. By learning how to quit well, you can avoid investing your time, energy, and resources into something that is not serving you well and redirect them to more productive and fulfilling pursuits.
Learning How to Quit allows you to pivot when necessary
Sometimes circumstances change, and what was once a successful pursuit may no longer be viable. By learning how to quit well, you can pivot to a new direction when necessary and stay agile in the face of changing circumstances.
Learning How to Quit helps you stay focused on your goals
Knowing when to quit can help you stay focused on your goals and avoid distractions that could derail your progress. By quitting things that are not aligned with your goals, you can ensure that you are investing your time and energy into pursuits that will help you achieve your desired outcomes.
Learning How to Quit fosters resilience and adaptability
Learning how to quit well can help you develop resilience and adaptability. By recognizing when it’s time to quit and being open to new opportunities, you can embrace change and stay flexible in the face of adversity.
Learning how to quit well can be vital to your success by helping you avoid wasted time and resources, pivot when necessary, stay focused on your goals, and foster resilience and adaptability. By making a conscious decision to quit when necessary, you can position yourself for success by investing your time and energy into pursuits that truly matter.
Overall, while perseverance and sticking to things are important traits, learning to quit well is equally important. Knowing when and how to quit can better prioritize our time and resources, maintain our mental and emotional well-being, and embrace new opportunities for growth and learning.
Where to Go From Here
I hope you found this short guide on how to learn how to quit well useful.
This article is based on an episode of Passion Struck with John R. Miles, one of the 50 most inspirational podcasts of 2022.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your favorite podcast platform.