It’s true. There are often reasons we give up before succeeding when tackling a goal or task. Sometimes, it’s not even realized or evident. We simply decide it’s time to move on.
What if you assessed your mindset before making the change to quit? Would it help you recognize thought patterns and why you assume quitting is the best option?
Our reasons may be understated, or altogether absent. We might not identify anything tangible at all.
To help assess the situation, let’s look at some common reasons why we give up before succeeding even when it seems important.
In This Article
1. Clinging to Expectations
It’s understood that you have expectations for just about every part of life. Whether it’s how others treat you, what you want from certain experiences, or even the outcome of a situation, these thoughts determine your emotions and actions.
When we start an event, or make the attempt, there are often set expectations, even if we don’t realize it. This is especially true with goals and plans.
One common reason that we give up before succeeding is if our expectations aren’t met. This can happen at any point throughout the effort. Depending on how far skewed the situation is, you might decide that it’s time to throw in the towel.
This is caused by the idea that things must go the way you expect. There isn’t much wiggle room for change, so it’s assumed you should give up.
A better approach is to understand that rigid expectations aren’t a good view to have when working to achieve something.
2. Listening to Others
It’s suggested, for motivational purposes, to surround yourself with those that are supportive. This helps with general progression and is an important part of maintaining forward steps.
On the flip side, if you’re inundated with negativity, or surrounded by nay sayers, it’s easy to get sucked into bad advice. Sometimes this includes the suggestion to give up. If you’re easily swayed, you end up falling short before finding success.
This creates the question as to character when others are involved. Do you stick with your own views, or are you quick to follow what someone says? Do you let others talk you out of things that you’re good at or could accomplish?
Various opinions are a part of life and being in relationship with others. But it’s important to be sure your decisions are based on your views and not someone else’s.
3. Staying Fearful
Confidence isn’t always present from the beginning of a new idea or project. Instead, it often takes time and progression to build it up.
A fearful stance creates the assumption that you should quit before succeeding. This may take place when you listen to others, but it can also be within your own mind.
Being afraid of what might happen, or something not taking place, can often cause freezing episodes. It’s easy to convince yourself you “can’t” or that it won’t turn out the way you want. This creates the impression that it’s easier to quit.
Talking yourself out of completing something robs you from the opportunity to build confidence and see what you’re capable of. Things might not always end up exactly how you expected, but continuing the journey is a great way to overcome fear.
4. Don’t Have a Plan
When asked how you intend for things to progress, there might be an envisioned outcome for a task to be completed. But simply visualizing the finished product isn’t a plan.
This step is crucial, but it can be challenging when we’re not exactly sure how to go about setting goals or outlining the plan.
Using George Doran’s SMART approach is a common and productive way to keep from quitting before you reach success. The steps for outlining goals with this method include Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.
This process gives you an exact recommendation as to how to set a plan in place. When you follow this principle, it helps shape necessary steps and monitor your progress for reaching final goals.
5. Aren’t Passionate About It
This point is a common reason why we quit before reaching success. When you are focused on setting up ideas that you don’t actually lean into, it creates gaps.
On the other hand, it you’re trying to accomplish a certain action, and are good at it, this encourages continued steps.
When you love what you’re doing, you believe in it. Rather than being strung along, or pushed into a rut, it’s important to identify your strengths. This is a great place to start.
So often, we see something that looks interesting, especially if there’s monetary gain, but we aren’t truly passionate about it. Instead, we identify other reasons that it seems like a good idea. This isn’t usually an authentic approach to success.
It’s easy to say you’re “done” or walk away when you’re not invested in something (mind and heart). But when you have true inspiration about it—or love and believe in it—you are more apt to stick it out for the long haul.
6. Lack of Progress
Another reason that we give up before succeeding is lack of progress. This could be due to just about anything or for any reason. But basically, you decide that it’s time to quit because you feel as though you’re spinning your wheels. You might even think you’re failing gracefully.
One solution to this issue is asking for help. Rather than assume everything must be left up to you, be open to reaching out to others that might have good insight, ideas, or just be willing to lend a helping hand.
Overcoming a lack of progress takes ingenuity and might simply mean taking a step back to reassess your plan. Or making sure you have a solid plan in the first place. But don’t give up on the idea of leaning on others when needed.
7. Fizzled out Perseverance
This point can quickly cause us to lose traction when trying to reach success. Some people are naturally more motivated, and others need an extra push.
Sometimes it comes down to the question of laziness, but most often that’s not the case. If you are contemplating and planning an idea to see it to fruition, you’re anything but lazy.
Perseverance can be tricky when you don’t see gains, or you may have a lapse in your drive and are running out of energy. Rather than continuously go hard, find ways to take small breaks and reset your mind when needed. It’s also important to build resilience.
It’s good to pace yourself instead of trying to remain at full speed. This helps prevent burnout and might allow you to step back and see things from a different perspective.
8. Sticking to Assumptions
This is related to judgment based on what you see happen to others. When you have an assumption of how something should end up, or the way it needs to go, it’s easy to make quick decisions. But that doesn’t mean they’re good decisions.
We readily look across in many parts of life and see that the grass is greener. However, using this idea can be dangerous for your end goals when attempting progression towards your success.
More than ever, it’s vital to realize that your steps and outcomes aren’t supposed to look like your comparisons. Variety and uniqueness are what make the world go round. If our ideas and steps were all the same. . .well, you get it. Imagine how drab the world would be.
Too often we hear a story of someone’s success and expect the exact same result. Each account should be accompanied by a clause stating, “Not a common result.”
This might save us from assuming we’re falling short and prevent giving up before we reach success.
9. Difficulty Facing Adversity
This issue is common in multiple parts of life when we give up before succeeding. It’s not just based on one particular task. Misunderstanding how to face adversity can be birthed from a poor mindset during approach of practically any idea. As we previously discussed, it’s readily tied to assumptions about a situation.
Rather than have flexibility and roll with the punches, we form a negative outlook and mindset about the circumstance. Once this occurs, it’s often only a short time before we quit.
Accepting adversity is a challenge, and it seems that society in general is less equipped to handle it. Meaning we usually quit rather than think outside the box or develop an alternative plan.
One way to change your mindset toward challenges is to approach with a view of optimism rather than one of positivity. Optimism says you’ll face tough times, but you will succeed. (This versus the idea that things will always go well as with positivity.)
Armed with this knowledge, we realize that a main step in overcoming adversity depends on how you look at it.
10. Too Many Distractions
As we near the end of our list, one point must be mentioned. In our busy world, distractions are often the culprit for giving up before we succeed.
It’s easy to decide that we’re in the middle of too many things and that it’s time to quit. However, what do you use as the measure for bowing out?
This reasoning is often reserved for the most challenging or least favorite things that we’re doing at the time. If you realize you’re attempting success in a place of difficulty, your efforts might end up buried based on challenges that accompany the task. Or even things that come up daily in place of it.
Be thorough in your thought process before jumping to conclusions. Success isn’t easy, or immediate, in most cases. And you shouldn’t allow distractions to be the deciding factor of whether you quit or not.
If you feel tempted to take this road, be more mindful about choices you make from the beginning. Were you ever meant to be in that place? Or did you dive in unprepared on a wing and a prayer only to get swallowed by everyday distractions surrounding you?
It’s important to recognize your place. This helps determine steps in the future when entering specific situations.
11. Never Truly Began
Our final point consists of the whole concept being a non-starter. This means you dreamed up the idea, thought about what it would take, maybe even consulted others, but never took the leap.
We often conceive great ideas or inventions but don’t follow-through. It’s obvious to say, but you’ll never succeed this way. You can’t finish what you don’t start.
If you really believe in something, decide to take a step, and then do it. Don’t assume everything has to align perfectly before you lean in. Ask most entrepreneurs or successful leaders, and they’ll tell you hard work is what got them where they are. Not having everything perfectly in place from the beginning.
Once you have in mind what you believe in and want to accomplish, act on it. Don’t let another day go by that you contemplate rather than going for it. There’s a reason you’re thinking about it continuously.
Final Thoughts About Giving up Before Succeeding
We’ve looked at 11 points that cause us to give up before succeeding. If you’ve reached this point, then you’re likely guilty of one, if not more of these. That’s okay.
Realizing that it’s scary, but possible, is often the first step in getting started. Instead of listing reasons it won’t work, use your energy to set up a plan and SMART goals.
Rather than assuming your dream won’t pan out because you’re comparing it to other situations, tell yourself that you’re just as capable as anyone else. Be prepared to put in the work and get going!