The Art of Quitting

November 13, 2007

I’m an only child, which makes me a natural candidate for the sort of perfectionism that legend is made from. Most people who have met me would laugh when I say that I am an insane perfectionist because my psychosis is so complete that I have learned to hide it extremely well. I don’t know if that is my natural tendency from birth (the nature argument), or if it is born from the idea drilled into me throughout my life that quitting is for losers (the nurture argument). And therein lies the problem: Most entrepreneurs have to be driven like perfectionists to reach high levels in their field, and yet failure is the natural learning process by which entrepreneurs hone their skills and learn from their mistakes in order to go on to something better. What is missing from my equation is the "art of quitting"—the calculation of the exact right time in which quitting will advance you in business, not hurt you.

Is there a right way of quitting something, whether its personal or professional? According to the Psychology Today article, Adieu to All That, there is an entire psychology built up around quitting. While the psychology of quitting is important in every aspect of your life, I’d like to look at three of their concepts—open/closed memories, lingering, and accepting—from the perspective of the entrepreneur.

Written by nhgnikole · Filed Under Business | 4 Comments