The Top Ten Strategies to Employ When You Feel Like Quitting

Ever feel like quitting? "Are you kidding?" you ask, "A better question would be, 'How many times TODAY have I felt like quitting?' " Sure. We've all felt like "throwing in the towel" at one time or another. If you haven't, I suggest that you check your pulse quickly. And here's a real shocker for you: the notion that "winners never quit" is a crock! Everyone - even "winners"- has not only felt like it, but has even quit at one time or another.

The "road of life" that we each travel isn't one endless stretch of flat, paved expressway, but rather, is filled with curves, crests, valleys, detours, potholes and bumps. It is its very unpredictability that makes it so interesting and alluring. We just have to see what's around the next curve. It's that same unpredictability that makes for some real gut-tightening questions and fears as well.

Having said that, I do feel that we, too often, give up on our dreams too easily and quickly - perhaps, just one small step short of success. So what do you do when the going gets tough and you feel like quitting? Here are ten strategies that you can employ when you hit those apparent "roadblocks" on your road of life:

1. Remember the reason(s) you started in the first place. What was the "spark" that caused you to begin the journey? Revisiting that may help rekindle the flame that helps you go on.

2. Ask yourself, "What would I rather be doing?" If nothing compelling comes to mind, then determine the next step you need to take to move you closer to your original destination. If something more compelling does come to mind, maybe you need to quit.

3. List 10 reasons why you CAN keep going. What strengths and resources do you possess that will help you achieve your desired outcome? Just the very act of doing this shifts your focus from the problem to the solution.

4. Give yourself permission to quit. Sounds crazy, but it works. When you set up an internal law that says, "I can't quit." Or "I shouldn't quit", it makes the desire to quit even stronger.

5. Give yourself a need to continue. Rather than focus on why you feel you need to quit, focus on why you need to continue. What's the payoff, the reward waiting for you if you persevere?

6. Stop focusing on the struggle and start focusing on the solution. Whatever you focus on expands. If your focus is on the struggle you are experiencing, that becomes the biggest (and maybe even the ONLY) thing on your "horizon" It blocks out many, if not all, of the creative opportunities and solutions that may be trying to present themselves to you.

7. Take a hard look at your methodology. Tired of getting poor or less than optimum results from your efforts? Then why keep doing things the same way an expecting something different to happen? That's the classic definition of insanity! Ask yourself, "What's the most radical or unorthodox action I could take right now?" Try it.

8. Make a contract with yourself. Write out what you intend to accomplish and how you intend to accomplish it and then give yourself, say, six months to achieve your goal. Sign and date it and keep it where you can see it. You might even impose some kind of "penalty" for breaking the contract - no chocolate for a month, maybe.

9. Get real. Were you enticed by the "illusion" that success is easy? Maybe you were enamored by the "fluff" that if you just want something badly enough, it will find its way to your doorstep. Success is WORK. Pure and simple. It is the result of a certain mindset as well as a set of deliberate actions. If you want to quit something, then quit fooling yourself by thinking it's going to be a "piece of cake".

10. Walk away. Sometimes looking at something too hard or long obscures the solutions. It's the "can't see the forest for the trees" phenomenon. By simply walking away or taking a break from the struggle to solve, you often free your mind to see new options and opportunities.

Monty J. Sharp is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst, self-proclaimed Relentless Architect of Human Possibilities" and co-founder of Vision to Venture, LLC, an executive coaching company dedicated to providing an interpersonal approach to high performance executives, managers, individuals and work teams: Visit him on the web at http://www.VisionToVenture.com or via e-mail at monty@VisionToVenture.com.

---

7 Great Life Lessons From Tsunami Survivor

As I am writing this article, the world is shaken... Read More

ABCs for High Achievers

A im for what you want by focusing clearly on... Read More

A Woman?s Road To True Beauty

We live in a world where society dictates the norm.... Read More

The Rate of Change

There have been many discussions and grumblings in the Western... Read More

Do We Have Free Will?

It is being suggested here that we have only one... Read More

Making the Most of Now

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every... Read More

Miracles are Your Responsibility

Miracles are your responsibility! What does that mean? Simple...You have... Read More

Develop Guts to Achieve Glory

It is just amazing the amount of people who don't... Read More

Pushing Through Your Comfort Zone

Our greatest growth in life comes from pushing through our... Read More

Increase Your Energy!

It was only about 18 months ago that I could... Read More

Wealth Building: Let The Wealth Building Secrets Of J. Paul Getty Inspire You To Great Achievement

One of the shortcuts to creating wealth is to learn... Read More

Top 5 Reasons Why Youre Not Living Your Dream

1. "I'm too old to make a change." Maybe you're... Read More

Activity Versus Accomplishment

Each and every day, all of us continually search for... Read More

The Doomsday Device ... The physical Brain In Action

Our physical brains quickly and easily handle mundane sequences of... Read More

Motivation; 5 Steps to Get the Changes You Want

Q: I just read your column in today's' Greensboro News... Read More

5 Ways To Feel Super-Optimistic: Tips for Your Health, Wealth, & Career Success

Optimism is the hidden key to your personal and business... Read More

How to Use Discouragement to Motivate Yourself

Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so... Read More

You Can!

"There are only two ways of bringing brightness into your... Read More

How To Create A Dream

All of us have a vision of our own possibility.... Read More

Quick Steps To Help You Take Action Now

Need to move ahead and yet find yourself holding back?Edward... Read More

Its Only Too Late If You Dont Start Living Now

Remember when summer seemed to last forever? My mother use... Read More

Quick Steps To Handle Setbacks

Looking for a way to handle a setback?Edward W. Smith,... Read More

Forgotten Your New Years Resolutions Already? How To Get Back On Track

How quickly we forget. We are only a few weeks... Read More

What Makes a Champion?

Imagine for a moment that you are a champion. You... Read More

The IDEAL Problem Solver

The IDEAL Problem Solver is an effective tool you can... Read More

The Day Your Life Will Change for Good!

Many people long for a better life. In fact, I... Read More

Are You the Motivator

We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how... Read More

Motivation By Your Family And Cornermen

The motivation for good or bad which we get from... Read More

Come Alive!

As many of you know I have a passion for... Read More

By Planning and Exerting Effort, You Can Change Things For The Better

Most of us plan to find the love of our... Read More

Celebrating the Couch Potato

Ah, the couch potato, that icon of American pop culture... Read More

The ONE Question Winners ALWAYS Ask?.

Over the past several years I have experienced my fair... Read More

Nine Reasons To Embrace Failure

I've always heard that "public speaking" is the number one... Read More