Last month, Novak Djokovic had one of the biggest upsets of his career when he lost to world No. 123 Luca Nardi at Indian Wells. Still, it doesn’t look like the Serb is ready to slow down or pass the torch to the next generation just yet – even though he’ll be 37 by the next Grand Slam tournament.
Is this really the best move for him? Should he keep playing the sport he loves so much, even if it means enduring more gruelling defeats?
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think it’s time for him to hang up his racket – while the majority of sports fans still hold him in high regard as one of the greatest tennis players ever. There’s nothing worse than watching a beloved champion decline significantly towards the end of their professional career and, in a sense, tarnish their own legacy.
Why not call it quits when you’re still on top and have people wonder why you left, rather than overstaying your welcome and have them wonder why you’re still here?
I like to think of it as “strategic quitting”, and in my view, it’s one of the best strategies any professional can use to evolve, push boundaries, and ultimately build lasting success.
We’re always quick to celebrate those who are starting a new chapter, but why does no one talk about the fact that sometimes you need to quit something to make room for those new beginnings? Knowing when to change course, drop what’s not working, and aim higher in your career is a very important skill that some of the most successful people all seem to have.
I’m not saying that determination is not important when you’re working towards a goal. I have so much respect for people who persevere even in the toughest times. However, from my own experience, I’ve learned that it’s also perfectly fine – actually, it’s a key skill – to recognise when it’s best to let go of something.
Earlier in my career, I started two businesses that I realised weren’t going to succeed and I was fortunate that I could actually let go of them pretty quickly and move on.
Perhaps you are at a point in your career where you sense things aren’t going as planned or aren’t likely to work out, and that’s why you’re thinking about calling it quits. On the other hand, it might also be that things are going incredibly great for you, which is why you’re considering taking on a new challenge.
More often than not, it is right after we finish a successful project that our confidence is at its highest and we can make the best decisions. When you quit while you’re on top, you stay on top.
Before you make the decision to quit, I’d suggest identifying where that decision comes from. Is it from a place of fear or a place of confidence?
What many people don’t quite get is that there’s a huge difference between quitting out of fear and quitting when what you’re doing is no longer aligned with your goals. If fear is the driving force behind your decision, it might not be in your best interest to quit.
The two main reasons most people quit is because of fear of failure and not wanting to leave their comfort zone. This is why we hear phrases like “Winners never quit. Quitters never win,” and why there’s still a negative perception around quitting in our society.
As New York Times best-selling author Mel Robbins said, “When you quit because you’re afraid, fear is winning. When you quit something because it’s no longer aligned with where you’re going, courage is winning.”
Choosing to quit or change your career path before it becomes a necessity shows that you are the one in control of your choices. You’re no longer just going along with things passively, but actively deciding what you want to do.
According to Harvard Business Review, not quitting can sometimes lead to persisting even when you have nothing to gain, which will, of course, result in wasted time and energy. On top of that, staying overly fixated on your long-held goals can also mean ignoring potentially better alternatives.
If you don’t step out of your comfort zone and start placing better bets on yourself by taking on new roles, you will simply never find your “match quality” and therefore never reach your full potential in your career.
By “match quality”, I mean finding the right fit for where you are now. Somewhere you can make a meaningful contribution to something much larger than yourself – a place where you can make a real difference and do incredible work that only you can do.
The only way to achieve “match quality”, I believe, is to have many different experiences throughout your career. If you don’t take your blinders off, keep doing the same thing and don’t branch out when it’s time to grow, you will stagnate and end up jeopardising your long-term success.
It really is an art in the world of work to be able to know when to quit – when you’ve reached your limit and accomplished what you needed to. I think this is the only way to level up and change your life.
Here are 5 signs that it’s the right thing to do:
Knowing when to quit and reassess your approach separates those who succeed from those who don’t. When you continuously strive for goals that aren’t serving you well, it can leave you feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. More importantly though, quitting when you’re on top will ensure you stay on top.
Life is way too short to be stuck in something that drains your energy and passion. Doing things just because you feel obligated is a surefire way to let life slip away. When enough is enough, give yourself permission to quit when needed to free up space, both in your mind and in your life, for new and rewarding experiences.
© Donna Rachelson. All Rights Reserved
