The adage, “don’t let perfect become the enemy of the good” arose in part because many people pursue goals that simply aren’t attainable or not worth the cost in time, effort, or money. In more modern parlance, we need to ask about our objectives whether “the juice is worth the squeeze.
Yet, we rightly encourage and celebrate those that persist against great obstacles to attain great things. How do we know when it’s time to quit and redirect our resources toward outcomes that are more likely to be achieved.
In his most recent “No Mercy, No Malice” blog post, Dr. Scott Galloway shares examples from his own career and others that illustrate why quitting is sometimes the smart move, and staying the course a fool’s errand.
We get one life, but we have many choices as to how to spend it. Dr. Galloway advises “If success is the best thing, failing/quitting fast is the next best thing. “Spending a few minutes to understand when it’s “Quitting Time” may change your life.
If you want a deeper dive on this topic, check out some resources I’ve shared previously: Seth Godin’s “The Dip” (see 7 min video) and Annie Duke’s (World Champion Poker Player) “Quit” (see also her interview with Adam Grant on quitting)
