Principle 17: Don't Give Up Quickly

But do know when to give up

We know the saying:

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again

It’s amazing how many principles we learn as kids that serve us well through life.

It’s also amazing how quickly we forget those principles, or don’t truly believe it.

“Ugh, I gained two pounds, I’ll never make this diet work!”

Whoa! Giving up that easily?

Since when has any journey been easy? Life is a long, crooked road with ups and downs, and if every time we reach a down moment we give up, we will be sitting in a down section. Better to get up and try again to reach the next up section.

Which will be followed by another down section, so be pre-warned.

Yeah, that’s about right. Think about all the tasks you do in life, even something as mundane as vacuuming the carpet. Does it pick up that lint on the first pass? No? Time to throw out that vacuum cleaner?

Of course not! You just make another pass.

Trying to get certified at a skill, and the first practice exam you fail spectacularly. Guess you just aren’t going to get that skill, huh?

Of course not. You just take it again.

Trying to learn to play the piano, and you suck at it. Guess you’ll never be a pianist, eh?

Of course not. You just keep practicing.

In fact, that’s the very expression: practice makes perfect. You’re not perfect the first time, it takes lots of time.

It can be helpful when tackling a large task, or a hard goal, to make it easier on yourself by breaking the goal into smaller, attainable goals. That way you can make small, steady progress instead of tying to do it all at once:

But there are times when you should give up. Let’s say as a kid you dream of playing professional basketball. Then you grow up to your full 5’2” height as an adult, get overwhelmed in high school basketball play, and you realize that dream isn’t for you.

You could try, try again, but if you are a 130-pound adult, you are never, ever going to play on the front lines of a National Football League team.

So there are attainable goals and unattainable goals. Don’t give up on the first group, but be realistic about the second. Nothing more frustrating than constantly hitting your head against a wall that will never budge.