“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
The second Friday of the new year, the day where all the “New Year, New Me” hype starts to unravel. The gyms empty out – Leadership books start to collect dust. The fire to chase your goals flickers because, well, growth is flippin hard!
Quitter Friday is the moment growth stops for those who aren’t prepared to push past the resistance.
Let’s be honest. This is why resolutions get a bad reputation. It’s not because they’re a bad idea – it’s because they demand discipline. The excitement of the goal fades when reality starts to set in. Early mornings, long hours, and small steps forward often feel less glamorous than the big dreams we envisioned on January 1st.
I remember one year setting a new year’s goal to hit the gym before I kicked off my
work day. The first week, I crushed it – I was up at 5 AM, ready to tackle the day. I felt
like a million bucks. But by that second Friday, the grind caught up to me. My body
was sore, I knew the stress my day was about to have, and my mind was full
of excuses. That morning, the alarm went off, and I hit snooze. Then snooze again.
And again. Before I knew it, I had talked myself into staying in bed until it was time
to get up, and rush out the door to the office.
It felt good… for a brief moment. But by the afternoon, I was SO frustrated with myself. I had let comfort win over my commitment. That day, I made a decision: I wasn’t going to let a moment of weakness turn into a habit of quitting. The next morning, I got up and went for it. It didn’t click right away. It took some time for the habit to come to fruition. But that single choice set the tone for the rest of the year. Looking back, and y’all all know how fired up and passionate I am now about my 4:15am morning routine, I’m grateful I didn’t let Quitter Friday define me for the rest of my year!
“The reason you’re stuck isn’t because the goal is too big. It’s because you’re not willing to take the small, consistent steps to get there.” – Pastor Steven Furtick
Here’s how it starts to play out after (2) Fridays post New Years Day!
• You vowed to eat better, but a friend invites you out for pizza and wings. “What the heck, I’m in,” you say, thinking one meal won’t hurt your goal.
• You committed to growing your leadership, but after an employee quits, it’s easier to jump back in, be the savior, and do it all yourself rather than train someone new.
• You said you’d hit the gym every morning, but when the alarm goes off at 5 AM, that snooze button is a lot more appealing than a treadmill.
• You wanted to deepen your faith and surround yourself with better influences, but when your old friend (the one who always leads you astray) asks you to hang out, you go. Instead of leading them in a better direction, you play to the crowd and fall back into the same habits.
• You promised yourself you’d finally tackle that business strategy, or new process you’ve been avoiding, but coming home, and Netflix and the couch are calling your name after a long day!
And just like that, the wheels fall off. Quitting today feels easy. But – The cost you’ll pay for quitting is another mediocre year, where you end it feeling like crap.
Growth will never be easy. That’s why so many people quit. The excitement of setting goals is quickly replaced by the grind, and the grind doesn’t care about your feelings.
But here’s the truth to know:
• Leaders – lean into the hard conversations and make the tough decisions that move your team forward.
• Dreamers – keep grinding even when progress feels painfully slow.
• Those pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus – stand firm in your values and lead by example, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Those chasing health – show up tomorrow, and the next day, even when the soreness and tiredness kicks in. Don’t fall for the “Mind Over Mattress” loss!
“Quitter Friday” doesn’t have to be your story. Growth is hard, but it’s worth it! When the voice in your head whispers, “Take the easy way out,” answer with action. Your goals, your growth, and your best year yet are waiting on the other side of perseverance.
What will you do today – quit, or grow? Let this day be the day you doubled down on your growth, not the day you walked away from it!
“Motivation is what gets you started, but discipline is what keeps you going when it gets hard. Success belongs to those who show up every single day” – Dan Martell