The A.R.T. of Quitting
Have you ever realized how our behavior seems to be at the foundation of our being. What we like, how and who we choose, the way in which we act or react to the ever changing circumstances and people that cross our paths.
Most of us love heroes, we worship winning, and truth be told usually rise up to a competitive situation - especially if we're good at what we do. We love the accolades of a triumph, a smile of approval from our family, our boss, even the foe. Indeed, victory is sweet.
However, when we find ourselves in a situation, or circumstance or with a particular person that creates frustration, immediate "non victory", an event that brings about our frail side. That particular space in our heart, our brain, even our backbone that resonates fear, difficulty hap hazardous on our part, what often occurs? Do we recognize the opportunity to grow, to learn, to overcome? Maybe. What a particularly lame declaration from such a usual confident, competent person, such as we are! No, you want to really know what truly happens to "short circuit" this challenge? We quit. We walk away, "cut our losses", and go back to the things and the people that keep us feeling strong, happy and confident.
In 1776, immediately after the Declaration of Independence, America's Commanding General, George Washington had 30,000 troops sign up, step up, and pledge their allegiance to fight England. On the daring raid of Christmas across the Delaware to fight an impossible battle at Trenton and turn the tide of nine straight defeats, 2,500 men were left. Washington was losing 300 men per day to desertion. Thus, Thomas Paine wrote to the Americans about the "Summertime Solider" and the "Sunshine Patriot". When times were easy, everyone had shoes, a full belly of food and warmth and shelter, everyone was for the Continental Army and the patriot. When winter came, the rations ran out, the vast superior army of the British arrived and the losing began, those "same" Americans bailed, ran for the hills, and flat out quit. Yet later, when America did (finally!!!!) win its independence, many of those same souls took credit for what they never did. Amazing. Even back then, behavior still ruled the day.
Quitting is an A.R.T. It's behavioral, habitual, and extremely easy to master.
The A stands for "Attitudinal"
The R stands for "Repetitive"
The T stands for "Trait"
These three characteristics form an "action" that often invades us and seems to settle in. Once we apply the two most dangerous descriptive words of failure..."justification" and "rationalization", then the die is cast. We've accepted it. We've spun it a particular way to "save face" to those we know, and now it's time to move on.
In your business, failing can be often a blessing to you - divine intervention. Without stumbling you might not be able to identify that hard to find flaw that messes up your product or keeps you from total victory. Tough times should be just another part of the learning curve or the mastery of your craft. In these moments you have the opportunity to know who your friends are, how loyal your staff is, how devoted your clients are to you. All of these "measurements" occur when logically it's time to quit, but you don't. Instead, you "stay the course" you see it through, you finish what you began. And for that you build self worth and character is born within you. Do realize by taking these risks to not quit you fall quite quickly away from the mob, the majority?
Why do you think heroes are so few? Also, how could someone (usually an ordinary fellow) become that hero if they were not placed in such a precarious predicament?
Vince Lombardi, the great NFL Football Coach of the Green Bay Packers once told a reporter after his team won one of the first ever played Super Bowls. He declared "his hardest coaching moment of all was not to let his team fall into the 'habit' of losing." He said "both winning and losing can be habit forming to anyone, not just football players". He was "ever vigilant".
So what's it going to be when you hit the wall and find you have a "tough road to hoe"? Do you quit, again? Letting justification and rationalization have their way with your soul? Or, do you recognize the devil is at play here - the sly evil one wanting you to turn away and not achieve, not conquer, not grow, not become. These "not's" start piling up fast don't they?
It all comes down to your choices, your convictions, your stamina, and yes, your courage.
After World War II ended, the Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill was invited to America and was paid $100,000 to speak at West Point to the graduating class. It was his shortest (and perhaps greatest) speech. He stood up, faced the graduates, and stated -
"Never, never, never, never, never, never, never GIVE UP...God Bless and thank you".
For those of us who finish strong, keep at it!
Most of us love heroes, we worship winning, and truth be told usually rise up to a competitive situation - especially if we're good at what we do. We love the accolades of a triumph, a smile of approval from our family, our boss, even the foe. Indeed, victory is sweet.
However, when we find ourselves in a situation, or circumstance or with a particular person that creates frustration, immediate "non victory", an event that brings about our frail side. That particular space in our heart, our brain, even our backbone that resonates fear, difficulty hap hazardous on our part, what often occurs? Do we recognize the opportunity to grow, to learn, to overcome? Maybe. What a particularly lame declaration from such a usual confident, competent person, such as we are! No, you want to really know what truly happens to "short circuit" this challenge? We quit. We walk away, "cut our losses", and go back to the things and the people that keep us feeling strong, happy and confident.
In 1776, immediately after the Declaration of Independence, America's Commanding General, George Washington had 30,000 troops sign up, step up, and pledge their allegiance to fight England. On the daring raid of Christmas across the Delaware to fight an impossible battle at Trenton and turn the tide of nine straight defeats, 2,500 men were left. Washington was losing 300 men per day to desertion. Thus, Thomas Paine wrote to the Americans about the "Summertime Solider" and the "Sunshine Patriot". When times were easy, everyone had shoes, a full belly of food and warmth and shelter, everyone was for the Continental Army and the patriot. When winter came, the rations ran out, the vast superior army of the British arrived and the losing began, those "same" Americans bailed, ran for the hills, and flat out quit. Yet later, when America did (finally!!!!) win its independence, many of those same souls took credit for what they never did. Amazing. Even back then, behavior still ruled the day.
Quitting is an A.R.T. It's behavioral, habitual, and extremely easy to master.
The A stands for "Attitudinal"
The R stands for "Repetitive"
The T stands for "Trait"
These three characteristics form an "action" that often invades us and seems to settle in. Once we apply the two most dangerous descriptive words of failure..."justification" and "rationalization", then the die is cast. We've accepted it. We've spun it a particular way to "save face" to those we know, and now it's time to move on.
In your business, failing can be often a blessing to you - divine intervention. Without stumbling you might not be able to identify that hard to find flaw that messes up your product or keeps you from total victory. Tough times should be just another part of the learning curve or the mastery of your craft. In these moments you have the opportunity to know who your friends are, how loyal your staff is, how devoted your clients are to you. All of these "measurements" occur when logically it's time to quit, but you don't. Instead, you "stay the course" you see it through, you finish what you began. And for that you build self worth and character is born within you. Do realize by taking these risks to not quit you fall quite quickly away from the mob, the majority?
Why do you think heroes are so few? Also, how could someone (usually an ordinary fellow) become that hero if they were not placed in such a precarious predicament?
Vince Lombardi, the great NFL Football Coach of the Green Bay Packers once told a reporter after his team won one of the first ever played Super Bowls. He declared "his hardest coaching moment of all was not to let his team fall into the 'habit' of losing." He said "both winning and losing can be habit forming to anyone, not just football players". He was "ever vigilant".
So what's it going to be when you hit the wall and find you have a "tough road to hoe"? Do you quit, again? Letting justification and rationalization have their way with your soul? Or, do you recognize the devil is at play here - the sly evil one wanting you to turn away and not achieve, not conquer, not grow, not become. These "not's" start piling up fast don't they?
It all comes down to your choices, your convictions, your stamina, and yes, your courage.
After World War II ended, the Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill was invited to America and was paid $100,000 to speak at West Point to the graduating class. It was his shortest (and perhaps greatest) speech. He stood up, faced the graduates, and stated -
"Never, never, never, never, never, never, never GIVE UP...God Bless and thank you".
For those of us who finish strong, keep at it!
