I have often felt like quitting. As I considered my options I realized that quitting, in the long run would be more costly. I have always remembered the advise of my first sales manager over 45 years ago. He said, “it always costs more to fail than to succeed.” He went on to tell me that, “you have to get more comfortable with where you want to be than where you are.” I have never forgotten these tremendous words of counsel.

Several years ago I heard my dear friend, Charlie Tremendous Jones say in one of his speeches, that he wanted to quit also, but that he didn’t really want to quit, he just wanted to want to quit.” I hope that makes sense to you. I don’t know if I have his words exact, but the general meaning is there.

Do you feel like quitting anything now? Join the happy club. Life is not easy. It is often very difficult and trying dealing with people, issues, and a variety of challenges. Believe me, I know. I have been there and more than once. I am not a pessimist by any means but I am confident that before my life is over that the thought of quitting something will once again rear its ugly head in my consciousness. But, this time I will be ready. I will have the awareness that quitting is not really what I want to do, but just talk about it or consider it for a short time and them move on past it.

I am not suggesting that anyone stay in a destructive relationship, remain working for people who do not respect you, stay in a part of the country you hate - this list could be endless - I am questioning however your resolve, commitment and reaction to the first time something pops into your life that introduces you to yourself and what you are really made of.

Quitting on the surface can seem quite an easy thing to do. But consider this:

-When you quit anything you must begin something new. Life is not lived in a void. The something new you begin, whether a career, business, job or relationship will more than likely test you again at some point. You will never outgrow life’s attempt to guide and counsel you.

- When you quit you lose the opportunity to see just what you were made of.

-When you quit, it will usually be just moments, days or weeks, depending on the task at hand, before you would have realized your greatest hour. I believe God only gives great opportunities to who He believes will take and run with them. Why waste them on people who won’t carry through. So if you are being tested by life, consider it preparation for greater things in your future.

Tim Connor
www.timconnor.com