Hey, I resemble this essay! Well, at least when it comes to career. I've quit a number of jobs when they were no longer working, one profession, and one long term relationship. I regret none of these decisions, neither in taking the opportunities when they arose, nor in the decision to change. The sunk cost fallacy can be a big problem but it can be overcome.
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. [ ... ] Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
Sounds like you have good judgment. It's too bad that getting trapped in escalating situations tends to warp most people's judgment, making them less likely to quit when they need to do it most. People are often "shocked" when you decide to quit something, because so many just accept the status quo.
Shocked? Oh yeah - especially bosses. "What? You actually are going to quit, it wasn't a bluff?"
I don't know about judgement - for me, it's more about thinking how bad can it be? Usually, not that bad. Plus, it's more fun to step off the edge sometimes.
I am afraid, I am one of those non-quitters. I don't know how many times I have started something and stayed the course when I should have stopped and took a step back.
Then there were the rare times when I did stop and realize that continuing was futile. But mostly, I pushed through the pain, whether it was physical or mental, to complete the objective. I blame that on my military training.
I am better at evaluating now but it took me most of my life to figure it out.
If we're the rope, how many people are going to be killed before the elites hang themselves? Sorry, that's grim. Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that quiet quitting is a good philosophy, and that the Chinese youth have the right idea. I like my job, but I've found myself not caring or getting as stressed whenever I make a mistake, which I think is a good start.
Hey, I resemble this essay! Well, at least when it comes to career. I've quit a number of jobs when they were no longer working, one profession, and one long term relationship. I regret none of these decisions, neither in taking the opportunities when they arose, nor in the decision to change. The sunk cost fallacy can be a big problem but it can be overcome.
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. [ ... ] Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
- Hellen Keller, 1940
Sounds like you have good judgment. It's too bad that getting trapped in escalating situations tends to warp most people's judgment, making them less likely to quit when they need to do it most. People are often "shocked" when you decide to quit something, because so many just accept the status quo.
Shocked? Oh yeah - especially bosses. "What? You actually are going to quit, it wasn't a bluff?"
I don't know about judgement - for me, it's more about thinking how bad can it be? Usually, not that bad. Plus, it's more fun to step off the edge sometimes.
I am afraid, I am one of those non-quitters. I don't know how many times I have started something and stayed the course when I should have stopped and took a step back.
Then there were the rare times when I did stop and realize that continuing was futile. But mostly, I pushed through the pain, whether it was physical or mental, to complete the objective. I blame that on my military training.
I am better at evaluating now but it took me most of my life to figure it out.
I think we're all at risk of doing it, just not on the Staw level--that's for sure.
If we're the rope, how many people are going to be killed before the elites hang themselves? Sorry, that's grim. Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that quiet quitting is a good philosophy, and that the Chinese youth have the right idea. I like my job, but I've found myself not caring or getting as stressed whenever I make a mistake, which I think is a good start.
No need for an apology. I think the answer to that question is a lot, quite a lot. In the mean time, we're all smart to do a little quiet quitting.