#125, Quit
Quitting often gets a bad name. Quotes like, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win” or “You are only a failure when you quit trying” are commonly used to discourage quitting. Is quitting so evil though?
One reason it is so difficult to quit is because of the idea of a sunk cost. A sunk cost is the time, money, and/or effort we put into something (e.g., a relationship). The past costs make us believe that we are invested in something and therefore should not leave. If you are in a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend you loathe, should you stay with them simply because of the past? Quitting can free us of past mistakes. It can open the door to new opportunity.
At the end of 2010, I quit my first teaching position in Korea. I had been at this school for nearly four years, was compensated fairly, and developed a strong network of peers. I had sunk a significant portion of my life into the company. Still, I was unhappy and made up my mind to leave. It was one of the smartest decisions I’ve made in my professional life. PEAI is a wonderful school to teach at and has allowed me to pursue my Master's.
To complete this week’s Journal response,
- Describe an instance in your life in which you quit. Describe both sides of your decision (i.e., staying versus quitting).
- Comment on one of your peers' responses.
-Brenden Lee Teacher
of the forest