Quit a Winner, NOT a Loser!

When I was “auditioning” for my job with The Anthony Robbins companies — I call it an audition because it was like what I imagine an actor goes through when trying to get a lead role. There were multiple people trying out for the same position all reciting the same script in front of a group of executives — who were all feverishly taking notes on the ‘performance’.

That commitment was a very challenging one for me. First of all I had never had any formal training in “public speaking” and I had a fear of getting up in front of strangers. To top it all off, I was given 10 days to memorize a 27-32 page script (depending on how big you made the type).

I sat at a Panera bread type bakery for 7 days straight, re-writing, reading aloud and listening to the script — attempting to memorize it. I did this religiously everyday, almost everyday wanting to quit… I mean I wasn’t even guaranteed the job — this was just for an audition!!!

After the second day, there wasn’t an hour that went by that I didn’t want to quit.

Multiple times I attempted to present in front of Roberto and completely BLANKED!! I couldn’t even remember the opening paragraph.

I was freaking out!

There were only a few days left before I had to present to the management team — and I wasn’t able to say the first sentence.

But, I never gave up. Quitting was NEVER a real option.

As I’m sure you can guess, I was able to pull my self together and do a good enough job to get hired.

And believe me, it was one of the greatest rewards of my life!!

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Because I was able to persevere and overcome my urge to quit, or make up a reason to not go on, I was able to experience many things that most people will never experience — literally life changing events.

So many people quit before they really give themselves a chance.

Many people give up right before the finish line. Or worse yet, many don’t even start.

Recently, I shared the results of a 90 day health challenge that did for myself. In 90 days I was able to produce some pretty killer results. I lost 20 lbs and 3 inches in my waist, dipped my body fat below 7% and increase my muscle tone. I had somewhere around 15 people contact me personally and ask me how I did it — some literally begging me to help them. I spent the time and effort to explain the program principles and for many of them, I sent them the exact diet and workout. I followed up 30 days later and only 3 of them had actually started it or kept up with it.

I heard things like, “I don’t have the time”, “it’s very intense”, “I started but then I had a wedding”, “I’m gonna start next week” “It was hard”.

To me it was just bloody hog-wash!

Most of success I have enjoyed in life has come after I wanted to quit BUT didn’t!!

… Graduated college at age 26 (wanted to quit but didn’t)

… Set sales records in health club (wanted to quit calling, but didn’t)

… Traveled the US and met the most amazing people working for Tony Robbins (wanted to quit before the interview, but didn’t)

… Lived/Worked in Australia for a multi-national firm (wanted to quit working all the extra hours to get the opportunity, but didn’t)

… Sculpted the body I deserve (wanted to eat junk food and not go to the gym, but didn’t)

Quitting is one of the nastiest habits known to man. (unless it’s drugs and alcohol) Unfortunately, it’s one of the easiest habits to form. It’s just easier.

The minute a relationships starts to get tough — you quit.

The second you feel the discomfort of working out — you quit.

When the low hanging fruit in the sales pipeline is gone — you quit.

I’m sure at this point some of you are thinking to yourself… yes I get what you are saying, but are there certain times that quitting is ok?

How do you know when it’s ok to quit?

It’s simple. If it’s hazardous to your health or well being — quit.

That’s rarely the case. Most people quit things that will enrich their lives not hamper them.

And most people don’t quit something by choice, they quit by default.

If you truly want to quit something, then quit at the top.

If you’re a salesman and you don’t like your job because you have to make so many cold calls — buck up, hit the phones and get to the top of the sales charts and then quit. You quit because you made the choice, not because you lacked the ability or discipline.

If you want to quit the “Atkins diet” because eating all that food is inconvenient, then lose your goal weight first and then quit.

Don’t quit as a loser, quit as a winner!

If you’re building a new business, yes, it’s hard. Results won’t come overnight. But what else are you going to do? Quit? Go back to the job you hate, working for a boss that doesn’t appreciate your efforts and for a company that doesn’t make a real difference in the world?

You see, quitting only makes things worse. It might make things feel easier in the short-term, but, in the long run, quitting is the worst thing you can do.

When you quit, you are building the muscle of a quitter.

Don’t quit, build the muscle of a survivor of someone who has perseverance.

Before quitting anything do this:

1.) Ask yourself, “Did I honestly do my best? Did I give 100% the whole time?”

2.) Ask yourself, “Are there other people that are successful at what I’m attempting to accomplish?” If there are then chances are you aren’t really doing your best.

If you are currently on the cusp of quitting … know that you are probably inches from the goal line. Push on.

Porter Stansberry, one of the guys behind one of the most successful direct marketing campaigns every said this: “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you simply refuse to quit.”

Don’t quit. Push on!

See you at the top!

Loving, Living, Giving Large,

Jeff Paro

3 Comments

  1. Gayle E Smith on August 9, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I'm not in the same line of work as most of your reader's probably are, but this way of thinking is an outlook that I need to adopt into a number of areas in my life.
    I don't want to "build the muscles of a quitter".
    That was a very effective line in your article and inspires change.
    Thank you

    • Jeff Sterling Paro on August 9, 2012 at 5:15 pm

      Gayle, we have people in ALL lines of work. Our mission is to help people live their best lives possible. As Wayne Dyer says, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Thanks for the feedback and let us know how we can help.

  2. Wesley on August 9, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    I know exactly how you felt, my friend. The script I had to memorize for my “audition” for Tony Robbins was 40 pages single spaced. AND, I had Roberto sitting in the very front hassling me. I remember the look on his face and how I hassled him back a bit. Those were good times. Can’t believe it’s been 8 years since then. And you’re right, I could’ve said, “I’m bad with memorizing” or some other story about why I couldn’t do it but I CHOSE to do it and that led to some of the most amazing years of my life with some of the most amazing friends and experiences I’ve ever had. Thanks for the reminder, Jeff. 🙂

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