Don’t quit during training
By“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
~Muhammad Ali
Many people make decisions when things aren’t going well. They look for relief in the despair of the valley instead of waiting for the clarity that comes from being on the mountaintop.
Why? Because it takes a lot of effort to get to the mountaintop. And when you’re experiencing the darkness of the valley, it’s always tempting to make changes that you hope will relieve the discomfort.
My advice may be counterintuitive, but quitting during a struggle (or during training like Ali’s quote above) is rarely a good idea. The best time to make decisions is when you’re succeeding. If you fight your way through the valley, you’ll make better decisions at the top of the mountain. Here’s why:
- You can see your situation more clearly.
- You are moving to something, not just from something.
- You leave those around you in a better position.
- You decide using positive data, not negative.
- You are more likely to move from peak to peak instead of valley to valley.
So what should you do in the valley? Persevere. If you keep fighting, you’re likely to get your second wind, just as distance runners do. And it’s said that only when runners are exhausted enough to reach that place do they find out what they can truly accomplish.
If you keep persevering while you are in the valley, not only will you likely make it to the higher ground where you can make better decisions, but you will also have developed character, which will serve you well throughout life.
Use the clarity of mountaintop moments to make major decisions.
~from The Maxwell Daily Reader
True and just what I needed at this time in my life. Sometimes the truth is a bit annoying, however, I will choose to listen.
Blessings
Trudy
was thinking of quiting today. I will hold on. thanks
I am always amazed at your words.. Thanks!!
Thank you! Reading this couldn’t have come at a better time!
John,
Love the advice but I was in a situation where I had to make a change… Looking for a position in the non-profit world… Have 8+ years of non-profit leaders
Dr. Maxwell, my family and I are at a crucial time in our life, and although this was NOT the answer I wanted to hear, I think perhaps this is what I NEEDED to hear. My family and I thank you.
This is a very valuable truth and one I needed reminding of today. Persevere when you’re in the valley. Don’t give in to the temptation to quit.
Reminded that when we persevere and push through it stops being like treacle and suddenly becomes easy because we’ve mastered the process.
This is a great encouragement and a confirmation for me not to quit!!
For this one, may God bless you mightily.It could not have been more timely for me.
Badly needed to hear it! thank you so much!
I am right in the middle of a HUGE biz launch, what perfect timing!! I like this alot—->You are moving to something, not just from something. RIGHT!!!! Needed to hear that!! This is great John!! Thank you bunches!
I am going to fling this around the world and back again!!
Tina Herz
Thank you. Perfect timing and a great encouragement!
Thank you for sharing on FB and all the books you have wrote too! I have been so blessed and grown because of your obedience to Christ. God Bless You Abundantly! = )
Wow Just what I needed today. Perfect timing. thanks:)
Oh wow. This is so on point it’s a little scary. But not coincidental. Thank you so much!
Is quiting ever right? How do you know that your not just wasting your time at a dead end job?
I totally agree with your blog but wonder if not quiting is right for all cases?
As several have said already this is a very timely post. Not only is it timely and relevant, it is also something to build on.
Some of us who are not used to or have never been on the mountaintop in making decisions can find it very easy to quit and move on during the hard times.
It’s not always easy to see both the immediate as well as long term gains from seeing something through while you’re in the valley.
We just need to remember that the valley should never be our destination, just something that we pass through on our way to the moutaintop.
Thank you, I needed to hear that as well. I will wait until God moves me – not my fear. I thank God for you, and I’m thankful that you answered His call upon your life to speak encouragement into our lives.
Wow this came at the right time. Im facing so much at the moment, and Im itching to make a change just to get out of my situation. But i do believe this is from God. So i will persevere!!
I agree with Aaron C. about when to quit. Sometimes it’s time to follow another path and sometimes we’re just too impatient about our current situations.
I think in addition to “not quitting” when the valley is becoming quite dark, is to acknowledge the strength in praying about where God wants you to be. My husband was in Tech Support and hated the last year of it. It has affected every part of his life, including our relationship with all the stress and negativity. However, as much as he wanted to leave, he prayed about it and God told him to “Wait”. He had his last shift this morning, but it wasn’t because his conditions at work improved, it was because he was presented with a more promising oppportunity as a Youth Minister.
I myself am in a quanrdy about whether to stay in my current position or if I should move to another department that could further my skills and hopefully bring me more peace.
I will heed your advice, but I will also bring my worries to the Lord and let Him guide me on the path He has chosen for me. Your words were very much needed at this time – thank you!
Thank you. Currently in the valley but I will keep moving, keep fighting, and keep faithful. Thanks again for your blog post.
Hola soy de Argentina y me gustaría mucho recibir noticias, comentarios novedades en Español ¿será posible? muchas gracias.
Thanks so much for your article & encouragement. I’ve been going through the valley not only with my job but also with my life for a long time and am losing some serious steam. Right now I need all the encouragement I can get, so I’ll keep hanging in there. Thank you!
very very timely… i was about to really let it go and quit.
Quitting is seldom the answer, but most of us have done it at one time or another. I think it is important to grasp the concept of being patient and allowing time for our harvest. We cant reap what we sow until God allows, and the time in between is when most quit. If we could have held on a bit longer…
When i received Christ that’s where my life started, the pain, suffering and more, to me and my family. Pain to the very innermost of my natural body. But when i want to quit thats where the Spirit of the Lord take over.. And a small still voice. saying; you have to undergo training, listen carefully , meditate my Words, take up the cross and follow me. In due time you are complete and ready to be with me in my journey ,WE WILL, any way i have won the battle 2000 years ago. Don’t you worry keep trusting. After all of this.. God will say, well done my daughter you made it to the top CONGRATULATION!!
Quitting can be good or bad. It depends on situation.
It is better to give our self more time to observe before quittting. How to make decision or whether to quit or not to quit is a complex issue.
Most important thing is to get different opinions from outsiders, as they see thing more clearer than yourself.
Also, to analyse the situation and look at the proble as a whole.
quoted:
” I wish I have many choices for me to choose,
so that I can select the best choice.
However, after careful consideration in selecting the best choice, I could not find one.
I rather to have only one choice, that is the best choice given by the God to me.”
unquoted
I ran my first marathon a few years ago. My training partner quit part of the way through the race, and I had to run most of the race alone until the last five miles. At that point, my trainer drove up and parked her van, got out and ran the last few miles with me. If you’re thinking of quitting what God wants you to do, pray for a friend to come along side you who has already done what you are doing. It makes all the difference in the world.
Several years ago my husband and I heard a sermon that got us through at the time and we’ve referred to it many times. It was “Island of Need” by John Osteen (yes Joel’s dad). In the message he said when your going through something your mover is broke. Guess I needed to reminded again. Thanks
Thank you this came at a very important time in my life. I was about to decide to make some majors decision in my life one; was if I sure continue in college and another to leave my church. Thank
Thank you. I needed this encouragement.
If there was ever a time I needed to read this it was now.
Thanks for the great ideas John. Current displeasure for future gain can be a tough concept, but critical to leadership!
Sometimes training seems to go nowhere…. especially for me, but I do look forward to learning what I need to learn to be the best that I can be in the area of ministry and advocacy/awareness of people with disabilities to the church.
The real failure isn’t falling down is not getting back up.
One of my favorite qoutes is that God is doing as much “in” you as He desires to do “through” you.
2 Consider it all JOY, my brethren, when You encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces Endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ASK of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But the brother of Humble Circumstances is to glory in his high position ;
12 Blessed is a man who Perseveres under trial ; for once he has been Approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Is joy your overriding emotion when you face trials. Can you say that in whatever circumstance you glory in God. God has promised to give us wisdom when we turn to Him in hard circumstances and desires to prove Himself faithful and true. When we have need to turn to God and do so in our weakness we are to glory in humble state for this is actually a high position in the site of God.
Get God’s persepective and rejoice in His word and ways!
Timely! Just what I needed as I am surely in the valley at the moment. About to make some decisions but surely will not be making them in a hurry as “I am moving to something and not moving away from something”. Thank You!
wisest perspective I’ve ever heard on when and why not to quit!
I am definitely persevering!
Thank you for teaching me its when a person fails forward successful which is when they learn & apply what they learn and for teaching its so crucial to have a servant’s heart to serve w/o expecting anything in return but to serve anyway. Thank you for staying on my toes and for your teaching.
Thank you so much for your insight and wisdom. These are words I needed to hear in the midst of a storm. The personal battles we fight can take quite a toll, but getting to the top is very important if I want to succeed.
Thanks!!
Hello John,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I have printed that, framed it and hang it in my small office. The words are powerful! They are just eye opening words. Thanks a lot, Pastor David Ayambo
So encouraging, & so true! On the self preservation side, what we try to leave usually sticks with us in 1 form or another, so leaving a situation in good shape is always preferable. To the one who noted that some training seems to go nowhere, maybe the training was was for someone else & the perseverence was for us. Glory to God who uses His vessels to the utmost advantage. Praise Jesus for His Spirit, guiding us through every valley so we know the pleasure of His presence! Thanks for a timely word.
walking w wisdom
James stated that, “Quitting is seldom the answer.” I think that God requires us to exercise wisdom and at times we have to realize if the blind follow the blind they will both fall into a pit. I think we have to be careful who we are following and where is that they are taking us. Exercising wisdom is not the same as quiting, it is choosing not to follow a particualar person. I have read John say the people quit people usually not an oraganization. I think mainly it is because of lack of leadership or very poor leadership. Connecting and trying to have a relationship and perserving are key, but they are not always sucessful, then wisdom is needed on whether or not to continue.
Hi Mr John Maxwell i am happy that i subscribed to ur website, yes to not give up is good because u dont know whats waiting for u instore if u dont give up. There is always a reward for perseverance. If u give up u do not give any reward. God bless u Mr. Maxwell.
So true…. Sometimes quitting just seems so much easier than presevering until the last moment.
Counterintuitive is so effective, things I like to remind myself is always go against human nature instincts. A good example would be to practice driving slowly if you tend to speed while driving. Lol.
Mr Maxwell,
Great inspiration to me and Team..God Bless you for all the differances you are making in people.
cheers
v s kumar
Mumbai
No reserve, No retreat, No regrets!
John, I am in the situation of being challenged by Corporate people around. Politics, politics, politics. It’s not good story but your messages are very timely and helpful to me.
The Holy Spirit is moving around to me, i am in the adversities and sometimes I feel wanted to quit in my job. Life is unfair but GOD is alive and knew things happening. HE is my refuge. After all the perseverance made, all is for HIM.
Continue to lighten the life of others. GOD Bless you…
Another inspirational posting from you Mr. John. It’s easier to climb to a greater heights when you have momentum already. All we need is to keep persevere with guts and fighting spirit!
Thank you! =)
Just the words I needed. Thanks!!
My first time experience on your leadership website and you had me at “mountain”..:)
Easy way to help me teach this point of view to my 9 & 10 yr olds…thank you
Dear John, thanks for this post. It’s like saying once again, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’ Wish I could see you face to face…
Dear Mr. Maxwell you are just an amazing person that has helped me so much become a better person! Inside me you are my personal development coach! The post are a tool for me to pave my way to success. Thank you so much for posting them. Hope one day I get to meet you in person and thank you for everything you have done for me.
Champions can not be stopped! Never Give Up! Never Quit!
Through you John God has sent another of His lessons for our life to make us challenge what we do when we begin a new venture. I needed that to help me and to pass on to others who the Lord sends my way, who struggle with not wanting to finish the training for what they are setting out to do. Whatever it is that they have started. Thank you and God for the blessing.
When the enemy sees that you are really beginning to make an impact for God’s kingdom, he will through all sorts of diversions, distractions and delays your way. The first reaction most people have is that they want to quit. Don’t quit. Press through. The rewards on the other side are yours and those you will ultimately help or bless.
Our Christian life coach training warns of the possibility of these attacks. Once you recognize it can happen, you aren’t so caught off guard and are far more able to withstand any attacks.
Thank You John, I really needed this right now I am going through one of these valleys at this point in my life and I will keep on fighting through it because that’s what CHAMPIONS DO. GOD Bless You.
Lots of truth in what you wrote, thanks for the wisdom.
Thank you so much.
i’m in the valley right now. and this has really inspired me.
More blessings to you