Saying no to Quitter’s Day

Bill Gates famously dropped out of Harvard in 1975 to help found Microsoft, becoming one of the richest people in the world with a net worth of $114 billion. Following in his footsteps three decades later, Mark Zuckerberg quit school to found Facebook.

I’m thinking this week about Gates, Zuckerberg, and other quitters like them. The second Friday in January has become known as “Quitter’s Day.” It’s the day according to data analysts, who study these kinds of things, when people are most prone to re-evaluate their New Year’s resolutions and throw in the towel. 

The Day has become so well known that Apple even has an advertising campaign around the day. Despite the challenge, experts say the best way to see a New Year’s goal to fruition is to keep things simple:

• Set realistic goals: Break down resolutions into smaller, achievable tasks to maintain a sense of progress.
• Work on your motivation. Align resolutions with personal values and focus on why your motivated to seeing it to completion.
• Celebrate small wins.
• Roll with the waves. Adjust where you need to, be resilient, and keep focus on long-term progress.

On Quitter’s Day, we all need to a little encouragement. I know I do. Here’s four classics to inspire and to keep you going when the going gets tough.

Don’t Stop Believing — Journey

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

I’m So Excited — Pointer Sisters

Hall of Fame — The Script