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Why Quitting Is Often A Winning Strategy
“Never Quitters” aren’t virtuous, they’re stubborn
Never quit. Never give up. Always see things to the end. Parents, teachers, coaches, celebrities, and infomercials ingrain those beliefs in us before we learn to walk.
So many of the inspirational quotes you see on Instagram and Twitter focus on the evils of quitting and virtue of perseverance no matter the odds or circumstances.
Yes, quitting something meaningful at the first sign of trouble makes for a life filled with disappointment and regret. But quitting can also be a useful strategic tool.
Why is there such a distaste for quitting?
Our obsession with never quitting stems from both cultural influences and our natural tendencies.
The hero never quits
Our culture makes it challenging to embrace quitting. The hero in a typical movie or television show never quits. They stick it out against all odds and somehow turn things around in the end.
In all fairness to screenplay writers, a story about a hero who decides to end a fruitless pursuit makes for uninspiring drama.
Let’s not forget the ubiquitous refrigerator magnet wisdom which screams anti-quitting slogans like these.
