Was there a time you wanted to quit? How did you deal with that situation or overcome it?
Feeling like you want to quit is natural sometimes. A lot goes into that emotional state. To help you understand the nature of that feeling and strategies for not giving up, we asked CEOs and business professionals this question for their best tips. From engaging in self-care to reevaluating your goals there are several strategies that may help you not give up on the challenges you face in life.
Here are ten strategies for not giving up:
- Focus on the Good
- Rest and Journal
- Re-find Your Confidence
- Reevaluate Your Goals
- See the Value for Others
- Clarifying the Why
- Engage in Self-Care
- Swim it Out
- Get Support from Friends & Family
- Being Ready to Pivot
Focus on the Good
Whenever I start a difficult project and feel an urge to give up, I always try to focus on the good that will come from persevering. I think about how rewarding it will be when I accomplish something that at one point seemed impossible to achieve. I keep in mind those who will be proud of me as well as how proud I will be of myself for not giving up. Although a task may be exhausting and the final result seems far away, if you focus on the good, the good gets better and that is what pushes me to not give up.
Shelby McCabe, Markitors
Rest and Journal
We’ve all been there–that moment when you want to throw in the towel and walk away from a project or commitment. I’ve found that when I hit that wall of frustration, three simple steps can help me get back on track. First, I allow myself to completely stop. I walk away from the activity for a few hours. Unplug and clear my mind so that my stress level can come down and I can relax. Second, I take time to get focused on what matters most. For me, that is through journaling. Finally, I actively look to find joy in the activities I am doing and remind myself what it was that made me happy about that project. When you take the time to relax and remember the good, it is so much easier to get re-engaged and focused on what tasks lie ahead!.
Nicole Spracale, Coaching and Consulting
Re-find Your Confidence
When I wanted to quit, I was not in a place where I was feeling confident. It can be difficult to build and maintain a business, entrepreneurship is no easy task. I wanted to give up on my business when it was stuck on a plateau. I felt like I was failing my teams and the company. After meeting with my co-leaders and being vulnerable, they were able to help bring my confidence back into play and we grew out of the plateau.
Jason Wong, Doe Lashes
Reevaluate Your Goals
Almost every person has been in a place where they want to quit. Work is not always fun every single day. It is called work for a reason. I found myself wanting to walk away from my work. I was burnt out and struggling to come in daily with a smile on my face. My manager saw that change in me and sat me down. We talked about how I was doing and we reviewed my goals and where I wanted to grow. We broke them down into steps into how I can attain those goals again, and I found myself a little more motivated. Having goals again and a purpose in my work changed my mindset.
Olivia Young, Conscious Items
See the Value for Others
I decided to go back to school to get my law degree while continuing to serve as the CEO of Community Tax. There were many times where it was extremely difficult for me to balance my time between my company, family, and school work. However, I was able to overcome these issues by reminding myself of all the people I would be able to help as a lawyer. I got really good at delegating while also reminding myself of my daily priorities and ensuring they aligned with my long-term goals.
Jacob Dayan, Community Tax
Clarifying the Why
Building a business is not an easy feat, and every business has its own issues. I have built a few, and I have almost wanted to quit on every single one. It is a grind that never stops. When I wanted to quit my most recent venture, I sat down with my partner, and we went over our “Why.” Why are we creating this product and why are we wanting to do this. We want to bring a sustainable home product to the market that also gives back to our homeland in Nigeria. This lit a new flame and we pursued our purpose.
Bari Medgaus, Stabili-Teeth
Engaging in Self-Care
There was a time early on in my career when I wanted to quit. It wasn’t because of work related issues, but rather some personal issues that I was dealing with at the time. I had trouble focusing at work, was less productive, and thought about quitting. However, I was able to overcome these issues through my passion for cooking. Cooking helped me distract myself from my problems and push through to the other side. I was quickly able to regain my passion, work ethic, and motivation towards work again.
Jordan Nathan, Caraway
Swim it Out
I’m fortunate enough to live beside the sea. When I want to quit, I go out for a swim. I usually end up thinking about my options. Once back home, I realize I’m having a bad day, not a bad life!
Heloise Blause, Home Kitchen Land
Get Support from Friends & Family
I recently completed famed Navy Seal and endurance athlete David Goggins’ 4x4x48 challenge. The Challenge was to run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours, with a start at 8 pm, run number two at 12 am, three at 4 am, etc… As I got further and further into the run, my ankles, knees, and hips took turns trying to make me quit. It was difficult to recover in the 3 hours or so I had between runs. I was able to overcome the situation by telling other people what I was going to do and sticking to my word. After every leg, I would record myself for Instagram and Facebook, and people told me that I had inspired them. Those comments and affirmations gave me strength in the final legs to persevere, and I didn’t want to let down my friends or family.
Wesley Jacobs, Apollo Medical Travel
Being Ready to Pivot
The time I wanted to quit the most was about 17 years ago, when I was in my mid-20s. I had just relocated to Australia to start a coaching business and had managed to secure some initial funding from a few investors to get the business running. However, the business flopped. Five months down the line, I had nothing to show for it. No revenue, no clients, no prospects. My main investors had pulled out, the creditors were swarming, and my savings were completely eviscerated at this point. I honestly just wanted to quit, go home, get a regular job, and forget the entire experience. But, I didn’t quit. My desire to turn this experience into something meaningful pushed me to find out of the box solutions to my current predicament. I pivoted my business into a one man online marketing agency, learning the ropes of digital marketing along the way. Soon, I had managed to establish a small client base, and with the revenues, I eventually paid off my debts to creditors and former investors.
Sai Blackbyrn, Coach Foundation
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.