I'm one of those people who's terrible at saying no. I take on too many projects at once, and spend too much of my time doing things I'd rather not be. I get stuff done, but it's not always the best I can do, or the best way I can spend my time.
That's why my newest goal, both as a professional and a person, is to be a quitter.
Being a quitter isn't being someone who gives up, who doesn't see
I want to quit doing things that I'm asked to do, for no other reason than I'm asked to do it. I want to be able to quit something in mid-stream, because I realize there's nothing good coming from it.
A friend of mine once told me that "I knew I was an adult when I could stop reading a book, even after getting 500 pages into it." Odd though it sounds, we all tend to do this. We get involved in something, realize we don't want to be a part of it, but keep trucking through. We say "well, I've already invested so much time in this, I might as well stick it out."
I propose the opposite: quit as often as possible, regardless of project status or time invested. If you're reading a book, and don't like it, stop reading. Cut your losses, realize that the smartest thing to do is stop before your losses grow even more, and quit. If you're working on a project at work that isn't going anywhere, but you've already invested tons of time on it, quit. Take the time gained by quitting the pointless project, and put it toward something of value. Instead of reading an entire book you hate, read 1/2 a bad one and 1/2 a good one. Isn't that a better use of your time?
If you're stuck doing something, and don't really want to do it anymore, step back for a second. Ask if you really have to do this, and what value is being produced from your doing it. Don't think
By quitting these things, you'll free up time to do things that actually do create value, for yourself and for others. You'll have time to read all the great books out there, or at least a couple more. You'll be able to begin to put your time and effort into the things you'd actually like to do.
Let's try it together: what are the things you're doing, that you're only doing because you've been doing them for so long? Quit. Don't let time spent dictate time you will spend. Let's learn how to say "no" at the beginning, or in the middle, and free up more of our time to do the things we'd like to be doing, and the things actually worth doing.
Saying no is hard, and admitting a mistaken yes is even harder. But if we do both, we'll start to make sure that we're spending our time creating value, rather than aggravating our losses. Let's be quitters together.
What do you think? What in your life can you quit?
相关单词：stuff
stuff解释：n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱
stuff例句：
We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。
相关单词：aspire
aspire解释：vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于
aspire例句：
Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。
相关单词：odd
odd解释：adj.奇特的；临时的；奇数的；n.[pl.]机会
odd例句：
She looks a bit odd.I wonder what has happened to her.她的神色有些异样，不知出了什么事。
He's an odd character and no mistake!他的确是个怪人！
相关单词：invested
invested解释：v.投资，花费( invest的过去式和过去分词 )；授予；（把资金）投入；投入（时间、精力等）
invested例句：
The money will be invested in managed funds. 这笔钱将投资于管理基金。
He invested his lawyer with complete power to act for him. 他让律师全权代办。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：propose
propose解释：v.提出，建议；提名，推荐
propose例句：
Did he propose marriage to you?他向你求婚了吗？
I propose resting for an hour.我建议休息一小时。
相关单词：toward
toward解释：prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝
toward例句：
Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。
相关单词：dictate
dictate解释：v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令
dictate例句：
It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？
相关单词：aggravating
aggravating解释：adj.恼人的，讨厌的
aggravating例句：
How aggravating to be interrupted! 被打扰，多令人生气呀！
Diesel exhaust is particularly aggravating to many susceptible individuals. 许多体质敏感的人尤其反感柴油废气。
