Quitting

We quit in the dark. Or at least it is a heck of a lot easier to quit when you think that nobody is watching. And the people watching can just be yourself.

Who do you tell about your ambitions?

What does a goal sound like to you?

How do you hold yourself accountable?

When does this happen (if at all)?

I had a buddy in college that shared a strategy that he used to hold himself accountable to commitments that he made: once he committed to something, he would tell at least 3 people. He's now sharing that wisdom over a lyrical beer out east.

External levers can only go so far -- who you tell matters, what happens when things get tough, whether you have that conversation about commitment when you can actually do something about it. But it took me far enough.

The conversation that you have with yourself about quitting matters much more, whether you're introverted or not.

And in my experience, the negotiation keeps you in it long enough to avoid quitting. For me, that's largely been a run streak that I just need to convince myself to get out the door, and the feeling that comes after the first mile is booked when I know that I've moved the streak one more day. 

But for really long stuff (Last Man Standing, 2023) and for big days that come to cash a check that is going to bounce (potentially Ironman Florida, 2024) -- the quitting is silent, dark, and alone.

Makes it easier and if you're not careful can become a habit.

Trying to raise the bar and avoid the habit of quitting because we're all just a couple decisions away from becoming quitters.