Quitting vs. Letting Go

The Stigma of Quitting

When I think about quitting, it often brings to mind images of failure and defeat—the notion that only those who can’t endure the challenge give up. This belief has been ingrained in me since childhood: once you set a goal, you should never quit. Success, I was told, belongs not to the best but to those who never give up.

Balancing Responsibilities

When I started managing a team while still handling technical work, I was proud of balancing both roles. I loved staying hands-on with the technical tasks and leading my team towards success. However, the dual responsibilities became overwhelming, and I found myself sacrificing too much time for myself and my family. My manager suggested, "Maybe it's time to let go of the technical work."

I resisted. I was scared. What if my technical skills lagged? Could I thrive as solely a people manager?

The Necessity of Letting Go

The truth is, to excel in something new, you need to let go of something old. It's like needing to empty your glass to pour in more water. Our capacity is finite, like the size of a glass.

A former colleague once told me that to advance in my career, I must teach everything I know to others. If I hoard my skills to secure my job, I can't grow. Instead, teach what you know and then learn the next level of skills to keep advancing. This shocked me, because I thought I needed to have unique skills to be indispensable.

Quitting vs. Letting Go

The key difference is between quitting and letting go. Quitting is running away from something challenging because it's too scary or difficult. Letting go, however, is a strategic choice to free up capacity to embrace something new. It's a deliberate, intentional decision for growth. The question is, what will you let go of, and what will you add in its place?

Join Us in the Journey

The Women Leaders Community can help you decide what to let go of, how to create space for what you truly want, and do so without the guilt or shame of quitting. Join us to learn more about making these intentional, empowering choices in your life.