Skip to content
Item added to cart
Join Sign In
DEKA Help
DEKA

Select your location

Spartan Race Spartan Race | Home
Find A RaceFind Races
Race
  • Back
  • Spartan Races
    • Leaderboards
    • Pro Team
    • World Championships
    • Passes
    • Trifecta
    • Obstacles
    • Ultra
    • Beast
    • Super
    • Sprint
    • City
    • Stadion
    • View All Spartan Races
  • Trail Races
    • Run World Series
    • Passes
    • Trail Ambassadors
    • Bike Series
    • View All Trail Races
  • Endurance Races
    • Agoge
    • Peak Races
    • Hurricane Heat
    • Death Race
    • View All Endurance Races
  • Virtual Race
  • Kids Races
  • Volunteers
  • Results & Photos
  • Global Rankings
  • Leaderboards
  • Find A Race
Train
  • Back
  • Training Center
  • SGX Certification
  • SpartanFit App
  • Training at Home
    Training at Home READ MORE
Shop
  • Back
  • Men's
    • Apparel
    • Footwear
    • Training
    • Events
    • Shop All
    • Sale
    • View All Men's
  • Women's
    • Footwear
    • Training
    • Events
    • Shop All
    • View All Women's
  • Kids
    • Footwear
    • Accessories
    • Shop All
    • View All Kids
  • Equipment
    • Strength
    • Pancakes
    • Ropes
    • Sale
    • Shop All
    • View All Equipment
  • Accessories
    • Face Mask
    • Spartan Swag
    • Bags & Packs
    • Headlamps
    • Performance
    • Hydration
    • Gloves
    • Shop All
    • Sale
    • View All Accessories
  • Collection
    • Race
    • Training
    • Virtual Race
    • View All Collection
  • Events
    • Venue Gear
    • Deltas & Commemorative
    • View All Events
  • Brands
Unbreakable
  • Back
  • HQ
  • Race Stories
  • Training
  • Focus
  • Nutrition
  • Unbreakable Community
  • Kids
  • Unbreakable TV
DEKA
Account
  • Orders
  • Join
  • Sign In
Find a 2021 Race Find a 2021 Race Commit Now
Home   /   Unbreakable Focus
The Hard Truth About Quitting (and When It's Actually OK to Do So)

The Hard Truth About Quitting (and When It's Actually OK to Do So)

By Spartan Founder Joe De Sena
· December 31, 2020
Share
Facebook Share on Facebook Tweet Tweet on Twitter Pin it Pin on Pinterest Whatsapp Share on Whatsapp Email

In 1941, Winston Churchill famously told the students of Harrow School, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never." Though Churchill gets the credit for the quote, Spartans created — and lived by — this mindset 2,500 years ago. Spartans push through, keep going, and don’t let anything stand between them and the goal. I’ve lived by this mantra my whole life. But unfortunately, Spartans are undoubtedly an anomaly in today’s world, as evidenced by these disturbing statistics. 

  • One-third of employees quit their job in less than 12 months.
  • 90% of people quit the gym after 3 months.
  • 80% of people quit their diets.


    Admittedly, I see this as weakness. I’ve learned, however, that there are times when pulling back is necessary to preserve one’s own energy, save the tribe, or continue the mission. Animals will sometimes quit their hunt when they realize that the energy needed to kill their prey isn’t worth what they will get from the kill. Which begs the question: 
    Are there times when quitting or pivoting is better than pushing through?

    One thing that the hardships of 2020 taught me is that there are times when a strong pivot is necessary. We all know that life doesn’t always go as planned, and neither does running a business. What was once a sweet idea can turn sour in a hurry. What felt like the right path can end up being a dead end. And so, sometimes, we must throw in the towel. Or maybe we throw up the towel and catch it somewhere else. You keep going, but you change direction.

    Related: 7 Simple Tips to Make the Most of Every Day

    Let Your True North Guide You

    is it ok to quit

    A key element to tap into is your True North, your why. My mission is to change 100 million lives. It's not an easy goal, but I’m committed to it. So if pivoting or pulling back allows me to be more aligned with my True North, then it’s the right thing to do.

    However, even when I hold up my True North, the answer isn’t always easy. Take the totality of 2020, for example: Where was my energy best served? In pushing through and trying to get races back as quickly as possible, or pulling back and conserving our resources to live to fight another day?

    Legendary mountaineer Ed Viesturs said it best: “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory”

    It's easy to throw in the towel when times are tough, when things are going against you, or when you're just not feeling it. But what you don't want to do is throw in the towel before you have to. It's an important distinction. 

    Turn Towards Your Trusted Personal Board

    is it ok to quit

    When you're feeling pressure to quit, you should turn to your trusted personal board of directors, the people in your life who you rely on to tell you what you may not want to hear. Sometimes, when you are deep in something, you can’t recognize your own blind spots. Our brain typically processes information more quickly if it agrees with our opinion. As a result, we often look for any information that will agree with the decision we want to make.

    So grab someone trustworthy and make good use of an outside perspective. They may tell you to keep going or pull back. Either way, you’ll have a new lens on what to do next, one that's not driven by how you “feel” at that moment.

    Related: What Spartan's CEO Learned in the Hardest Year in the History of His Company

    Reframe Your Own Identity

    is it ok to quit

    Many of us have built an identity around pushing through and never quitting. (I know I have.) So even when the smartest, most value-driven choice is to pull back or pivot, we all struggle with making this choice. Why? Because we feel that it's an indictment of who we are. But it’s not. It’s just a choice. It's as simple as that. Don’t get your identity wrapped up in the mix. Your identity is better defined by the value system that is driving the choice in the first place.

    Related: Being a Spartan Is About Character and Virtue, Not Muscles and Medals

    The bottom line is that we should all push hard — all day, every day. Don’t quit easily, and make sure that your decisions are completely aligned with your values. 

    Amp up your fitness and wellness routine NOW. Click here to find a Spartan race close to you!

    • Career
    • Mind and Body

    Recent posts

    Competition Is the Greatest Drug in the World

    Competition Is the Greatest Drug in the World

    February 18, 2021
    Read more
    The One-Month Plan to Meditate More, Sleep Better, Hydrate Smarter, and Drink Less Booze

    The One-Month Plan to Meditate More, Sleep Better, Hydrate Smarter, and Drink Less Booze

    January 29, 2021
    Read more
    We Gave Mark Cuban 7 Major Problems Facing the World Right Now. He Told Us How He'd Solve Them.

    We Gave Mark Cuban 7 Major Problems Facing the World Right Now. He Told Us How He'd Solve Them.

    January 27, 2021
    Read more
    15 Simple Rules That Every Spartan Should Live By Daily

    15 Simple Rules That Every Spartan Should Live By Daily

    January 27, 2021
    Read more

    Invalid password
    Enter
    Craft FITAID Harley Davidson USAA Honey Stinger Usana Yokohama Liquid I.V. Adrenaline Shock Cisco Webex Franklin Lazarus Naturals 24 Hour Fitness Athletic Brewing Co Gone Rogue Spartan Travel

    Stay Connected

    *By entering my email address, I agree to the terms and policy

    Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube
    Spartan iOs App Spartan Android app

    About

    Media The Spartan Story Careers Partnerships Virtual Swag Bag Spartan Kids Foundation

    Help

    Contact Us Shipping & Delivery Returns & Exchanges Military & First Responder Discounts

    FAQ

    General Racer Volunteers Street Team Merchandise & Online Orders
    © 2021 Spartan Race Inc. Established 2010 - Vermont
    Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions

    We use cookies on our site to give you the best experience. By using our site you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

    Exclusive Content

    Join for Free Access

    • Exclusive Content
    • Full Race Leaderboards
    • Personal Race Results & Photos
    • More
    Join Now Already have an account? Sign In

    Select your location