I had an interesting conversation with my Mindset Fitness Coach today during a quick 5-mile run.
SIDEBAR: Yes, even though I invented Mindset Fitness Coaching, I still need to have my own coach. Anybody who's great at anything has coaches, advisors, mentors, friends and loved ones upon whom they absolutely rely for guidance and support. If you want to fail miserably, just try and do things on your own.
ANOTHER SIDEBAR: Yes, I talk to Coach Veev while I'm running. At the core of Mindset Fitness is the basic scientific fact that when the heart rate gets up above 120, and the adrenalyn starts flowing, we experience an altered state of cnsciousness. Runners call it the Runner's High, but it's not reserved for runners, and it's way more productive than getting high. Check out the Mindset Fitness Page to learn more. Now, back to this post.
Anyway, our conversation went something like this:
"I'm not sure a particular part of the business plan is going to work. I'm thinking of dumping it."
Then, Coach Veev (His name's really Vivek, but I call him Veev) said, "Are you sure you're not just quitting because you don't really like this part?"
I think I said something like, "Well naturally, that's part of it! Why would I quit something I liked???"
OKAY - Here's the IMPORTANT PART:
Just because you really want to quit something, and just because quitting seems expedient and instantly gratifying, doesn't necessarily make it a bad idea!
Now, the next thoughtful question might be, "What about Quitters Never Win? What about never, ever, ever, ever give up? These are great bits of advice, and I often give the second bit about never giving up.
However, there's a difference between quitting and giving up. In this instance, I was looking at a component - a part - of a larger plan. I started to implement this part of the plan, and immediately, it started to NOT get results. Based on the information I was looking at, it seemed like it would take quite a bit more effort to get this particular initiative to work. Veev was all to kind in pointing this out. "You're not just quitting because you don't want to work harder on this?"
Let's face it: Something like 95% of all new businesses fail. Now, that could be because 95% of all ideas are bad, right? This idea was just plain bad, for a number of reasons. I can say this because it was my idea. I have ideas all day every day. Most of them are absolute crap. Yes. Most of my ideas are absolute rubbish. And that's fine. As soon as I come up with a bad idea, I QUIT! But I only quit on that particular idea. I NEVER GIVE UP on the bigger picture, the business, myself, my friends or my family.
I'm a Quitter and I'm a Success.
So yes, Veev. I'm quitting this idea. I'm quitting this idea because I couldn't possibly Give Up on the business.
:)
