Time to quit… Scrolling through Threads (the new Twitter for the cool kids), I stumbled upon a post claiming President Joe Biden had dropped out of the race. As a marketer, I know better than to trust everything I see online, so I immediately checked Yahoo News.
There it was, front and center, in big bold letters with an image taking up the entire screen. I gasped so loudly that it broke my husband Farhad’s (we call him Far) attention from binge-watching episode 2 of season 41 of Survivor. For all you married folks out there, you know that when the hubby is locked in, there’s nothing you can say or do that will break their attention. So yes, I think it was a hybrid gasp and shriek.
It’s been 3 days since the announcement, and all I can think about is how tough it must be to want something so badly yet know it’s no longer your season and you need to accept reality.
This isn’t about politics; it’s about having the courage to quit, knowing when to let go, and being okay with it.
TIME TO QUIT: Quitting can feel like losing part of your identity.
We often tie ourselves to our titles and roles. But quitting isn’t failure. As a marketing strategist and coach, I’ve seen business owners inflict stress and burnout on themselves, their teams and loved ones because they refuse to quit something that has outlived its usefulness.
Maybe you are burnt out, not using your talents, pursuing a failing initiative because of sunk costs, or refusing to terminate a toxic relationship due to its long tenure or the high cost of change
Perhaps what we can learn from the political stage is knowing when quitting can actually help you gain momentum or allow someone else to re-energize an initiative (in the case of the Democratic Party).
Quitting doesn’t make you weak. Smart quitting takes strength, courage, & bravery and can improve your future chances of success.
Is there something you need to quit in your life right now?
One of the hardest quits I’ve ever had is closing my business. Not once but twice!
TIME TO QUIT: The First Time I Quit
I was a successful personal trainer who started meal prepping for clients back in the early 2000s. I’d walk around Bally total Fitness training clients and eating out of Tupperware. My clients struggled with their meals so they’d ask me to meal prep for them. That birthed Food 4 Life my meal prep business.
It took off and soon my meals were all over the greater Houston Area: from Fit Club on Waugh, to Roebucks Juice bar. I was in chiropractors offices, Pilates studios, gyms across the Bay Area, coffee shops. I even had private access to some of the most beautiful homes I’ve been in where I’d punch the code walk in place the meals nicely stacked in the fridge or freezer and pick up my check on the kitchen counter.
I was in head to head competition with My Fit Foods. Mario was furious that I was taking his market share especially since his ex girlfriend and business owner of Marcela Meals had given me her business and client list.
I still did some personal training & I started getting into bodybuilding. I got my NASM certification as a performance sports nutritionist and applied it to my meal prep business.
I started nutrition “coaching” clients to get on stage. My boyfriend at the time dreamed of getting on stage someday and I said why not let’s do it.
While helping him with his contest prep and taking his meal to him backstage I sat around waiting for him to get off stage and made friends with a few of the female competitors.
They were trying to fix their makeup. Naturally I went into servant mode (for those of you that know me you know I love serving others).
I started fixing their makeup backstage. They were so grateful that they asked if they could hire me for their next competition to do their makeup.
That was the moment that started the shift.
I left personal training and my lucrative and successful meal prep service business to go all in as a makeup artist in the NPC & IFBB.
I was and probably still am (I still get emails & calls) the most sought after makeup artist in the fitness industry. From taking care of the top fitness celebrities to doing spreads & covers for magazines like Muscle & Fitness Hers, Muscular Development, Oxygen and more to traveling across the world with these amazing women and friends.
The first time I called it quits in my business it was easy to do. We are young, carefree and up for the change & challenges.
TIME TO QUIT: The Second Time
The second time, it took me so much to say it’s time.
So much of my identity was wrapped around being this celebrity-like persona who would get backstage without credentials because of who I was and my hot pink hair.
I forgot my badge at the hotel one year at the Arnold Sports Festival and I kid you not I get backstage and they were not letting me in. Several promoters were there and in an instant one of them hollered “That’s pinky let her in she’s with us.” Then like domino effect they all turned and started vouching for me, from CJ to Dr Mike to even head judge Lee Thompson. I ran back to the dressing rooms and the girls were already waiting for their touch ups!
My name and logo was on stage at several shows each year. All the coaches would send me their girls, I sat with the judges, or with the press. I had front row seats everywhere I went. Was invited to all the after parties. I even got to rub elbows with Arnold Swarzenegger, not once but several times in 15 years. Too many to count!
I even got to hang out with Mr. AC Slater himself Mario Lopez an avid fan of bodybuilding.
It was the hardest quit of my life. To top it off I was seriously going through an identity crisis as I had decided that 12 years of hot pink hair was also over.
Was I still going to be me? Will people recognize me?
Strong willed, funny, courageous, passionate, vibrant, determined, a firecracker power house of a woman…
We often fear quitting because we don’t want to be seen as weak. What will others think of me?
Although it was my hardest quit of my life. I added a few more descriptive words to my repertoire…
Bold
Tenacious
Strong
Wise
Mature
Experienced
Innovative
Thriving
As I pivoted to become a full time student with a corporate job to pay the bills for the first time in my life. To freelancing as a social media marketer and now 10 years later the CEO of Franco Innovative. Looking back I’m so glad I quit, I wouldn’t be writing this blog post for you!
Check In Before You Quit
If your at the crossroads of quitting or staying the course do these 3 checks:
Check In With Your Head:
Ensure you’re looking at things objectively and factually.
Ask Yourself:
– What do I know for sure?
– What are the facts?
– What evidence do I have?
– What validated feedback do I have?
Check In With Your Heart:
Connect with your deepest values and be compassionate.
Ask Yourself:
– What are my values?
– Does this align with my values?
– What emotions am I feeling?
– How do I want others to feel?
Check In With Your Gut:
Listen to your instincts and body sensations.
Ask Yourself:
– What sensations do I feel?
– Is this action bringing peace or dread?
– Is it a “heck yes” or “hell no”?
If you are currently feeling like it’s time to quit and afraid to do so, use your head, heart, and gut to make a small decision you’ve been stalling on.
Making small decisions to quit normalizes quitting and makes it less scary yet more manageable.
Knowing When To Quit
Trust yourself and take action. Get into the habit of quitting (sounds weird right).
- Quit what’s no longer serving you.
- Quit what no longer aligns with who you are.
- Quit when you realize your season is ending.
- Quit when it hinders your growth.
- Quit when staying is causing more harm than good.
Quitting is an act of personal bravery. Embrace the change and move forward with confidence. It’s ok to quit!