I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finishes
I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finishes
I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finishes I’m not a quitter
I’m not a quitter
I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finishes
I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finishes
I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finishes I’ll stay in a job I think every day I
I’ll stay in a job I think every day I
I’ll stay in a job I think every day I get home late undervalued all drenched
get home late undervalued all drenched
get home late undervalued all drenched but odds risky to provide best in fact I
but odds risky to provide best in fact I
but odds risky to provide best in fact I liquid I don’t do it I’ll see ya I’m not
liquid I don’t do it I’ll see ya I’m not
liquid I don’t do it I’ll see ya I’m not [Music]
[Music]
[Music] completely mad and the piggy is pretty
completely mad and the piggy is pretty
completely mad and the piggy is pretty bad and it’s making me quite stressed
bad and it’s making me quite stressed
bad and it’s making me quite stressed but I’m not like all the rest because
but I’m not like all the rest because
but I’m not like all the rest because I’m not a quitter
I’m not a quitter
I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I’ll finish I don’t quit
I don’t quit I’ll finish I don’t quit
I don’t quit I’ll finish I don’t quit I’ll do my confidence is plummeting
I’ll do my confidence is plummeting
I’ll do my confidence is plummeting I’m not sleeping got quite min voice is
I’m not sleeping got quite min voice is
I’m not sleeping got quite min voice is breaking feel depressed but I’m not
breaking feel depressed but I’m not
breaking feel depressed but I’m not gonna take a rest
gonna take a rest
gonna take a rest cuz I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I
cuz I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I
cuz I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I stay on and finish it I’m not a quitter
stay on and finish it I’m not a quitter
stay on and finish it I’m not a quitter I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finish it
I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finish it
I don’t quit I’ll stay on and finish it I’m not a creep come quick update on and
I’m not a creep come quick update on and
I’m not a creep come quick update on and finish it I medicate I don’t quit a day
finish it I medicate I don’t quit a day
finish it I medicate I don’t quit a day on finish
jots a word they sent me home I’ve just
jots a word they sent me home I’ve just been drinking here alone
been drinking here alone
been drinking here alone marriage broken I’m a mess
marriage broken I’m a mess
marriage broken I’m a mess can’t do anything but rest but I’m not a
can’t do anything but rest but I’m not a
can’t do anything but rest but I’m not a quitter the hardest part of any
quitter the hardest part of any
quitter the hardest part of any challenge I think it’s that moment you
challenge I think it’s that moment you
challenge I think it’s that moment you realize just don’t want to do it anymore
realize just don’t want to do it anymore
realize just don’t want to do it anymore that sinking feeling that something you
that sinking feeling that something you
that sinking feeling that something you once loved just isn’t working but you’re
once loved just isn’t working but you’re
once loved just isn’t working but you’re wondering am i miserable enough to go
wondering am i miserable enough to go
wondering am i miserable enough to go through the process of quitting I know
through the process of quitting I know
through the process of quitting I know that agonizing indecision of quitting so
that agonizing indecision of quitting so
that agonizing indecision of quitting so well I left a career and teaching made
well I left a career and teaching made
well I left a career and teaching made the difficult decision to fold to
the difficult decision to fold to
the difficult decision to fold to startups that were very close to my
startups that were very close to my
startups that were very close to my heart
heart
heart decided not to run a marathon I
decided not to run a marathon I
decided not to run a marathon I accidentally signed up for and don’t get
accidentally signed up for and don’t get
accidentally signed up for and don’t get me started on dry January 12 days but in
me started on dry January 12 days but in
me started on dry January 12 days but in each of these situations even though I
each of these situations even though I
each of these situations even though I knew it was the right decision even
knew it was the right decision even
knew it was the right decision even though after the initial uncertainty
though after the initial uncertainty
though after the initial uncertainty there was this space for new and great
there was this space for new and great
there was this space for new and great adventures even though every time I quit
adventures even though every time I quit
adventures even though every time I quit I learned more about how I wanted to
I learned more about how I wanted to
I learned more about how I wanted to live my life nevertheless I felt so much
live my life nevertheless I felt so much
live my life nevertheless I felt so much shame and guilt for quitting was I just
shame and guilt for quitting was I just
shame and guilt for quitting was I just being a coward maybe someone else would
being a coward maybe someone else would
being a coward maybe someone else would have been able to cope better in the
have been able to cope better in the
have been able to cope better in the situation maybe I just hadn’t worked
situation maybe I just hadn’t worked
situation maybe I just hadn’t worked hard enough in the past few years we
hard enough in the past few years we
hard enough in the past few years we have been force-fed buzzwords of
have been force-fed buzzwords of
have been force-fed buzzwords of resilience and grit we’ve been told the
resilience and grit we’ve been told the
resilience and grit we’ve been told the strongest people are those who never
strongest people are those who never
strongest people are those who never give up but I’ve seen one too many
give up but I’ve seen one too many
give up but I’ve seen one too many friends and myself push themselves to
friends and myself push themselves to
friends and myself push themselves to breaking point in the name of stoic
breaking point in the name of stoic
breaking point in the name of stoic resilience not quitting even though
resilience not quitting even though
resilience not quitting even though you’re on
you’re on
you’re on P is like buying a pack of cigarettes
P is like buying a pack of cigarettes
P is like buying a pack of cigarettes smoking – and being like oh I feel sick
smoking – and being like oh I feel sick
smoking – and being like oh I feel sick but I better finish the pack anyway
but I better finish the pack anyway
but I better finish the pack anyway because that’s what everyone’s expecting
because that’s what everyone’s expecting
because that’s what everyone’s expecting and I might like it if I keep smoking so
and I might like it if I keep smoking so
and I might like it if I keep smoking so last year I put on face book my
last year I put on face book my
last year I put on face book my proposition that our societal aversion
proposition that our societal aversion
proposition that our societal aversion to quitting was keeping many of us in
to quitting was keeping many of us in
to quitting was keeping many of us in really unhappy and unhealthy situations
really unhappy and unhealthy situations
really unhappy and unhealthy situations for much longer than necessary in the
for much longer than necessary in the
for much longer than necessary in the next 48 hours I was inundated with
next 48 hours I was inundated with
next 48 hours I was inundated with responses everyone had a story about
responses everyone had a story about
responses everyone had a story about quitting commuting three hours a day
quitting commuting three hours a day
quitting commuting three hours a day there and back to be bullied by my boss
there and back to be bullied by my boss
there and back to be bullied by my boss giving up a dream career as a
giving up a dream career as a
giving up a dream career as a professional musician because I was
professional musician because I was
professional musician because I was miserable being in an unhappy
miserable being in an unhappy
miserable being in an unhappy relationship but not wanting to have
relationship but not wanting to have
relationship but not wanting to have that conversation getting two weeks into
that conversation getting two weeks into
that conversation getting two weeks into a two-year job abroad and throwing I’d
a two-year job abroad and throwing I’d
a two-year job abroad and throwing I’d made the wrong decision and I had so
made the wrong decision and I had so
made the wrong decision and I had so many more so I sent out a survey 84% of
many more so I sent out a survey 84% of
many more so I sent out a survey 84% of people said they would not want to be
people said they would not want to be
people said they would not want to be called a quitter one in ten said they
called a quitter one in ten said they
called a quitter one in ten said they had been unhappy in these situations for
had been unhappy in these situations for
had been unhappy in these situations for over four years of their life and the
over four years of their life and the
over four years of their life and the impact mental health problems loss of
impact mental health problems loss of
impact mental health problems loss of confidence depression alcoholism giving
confidence depression alcoholism giving
confidence depression alcoholism giving up on creative dreams wasting years of
up on creative dreams wasting years of
up on creative dreams wasting years of my life and why do people why didn’t
my life and why do people why didn’t
my life and why do people why didn’t people quit even though 90% of people
people quit even though 90% of people
people quit even though 90% of people said once they did quit / / improve
said once they did quit / / improve
said once they did quit / / improve their overall well-being happiness as
their overall well-being happiness as
their overall well-being happiness as one person put it I felt there would be
one person put it I felt there would be
one person put it I felt there would be a black mark forever if I quit
a black mark forever if I quit
a black mark forever if I quit at what point did we put not being a
at what point did we put not being a
at what point did we put not being a quitter on a pedestal above our own
quitter on a pedestal above our own
quitter on a pedestal above our own happiness nature quits all the time
happiness nature quits all the time
happiness nature quits all the time leaves don’t hang on the trees worrying
leaves don’t hang on the trees worrying
leaves don’t hang on the trees worrying what their boss the oak tree is gonna
what their boss the oak tree is gonna
what their boss the oak tree is gonna think of them they don’t deliberates
think of them they don’t deliberates
think of them they don’t deliberates hanging on for one more winter hope it
hanging on for one more winter hope it
hanging on for one more winter hope it gets better in the spring
gets better in the spring
gets better in the spring no once they’ve given their nutrients
no once they’ve given their nutrients
no once they’ve given their nutrients the tree and it no longer serves them to
the tree and it no longer serves them to
the tree and it no longer serves them to be there they fall down
be there they fall down
be there they fall down the leaves that fool are still useful
the leaves that fool are still useful
the leaves that fool are still useful because they decompose and the nutrients
because they decompose and the nutrients
because they decompose and the nutrients go back into the soil
go back into the soil
go back into the soil do you not happens to the leaves that
do you not happens to the leaves that
do you not happens to the leaves that stay on the tree they freeze to death
remember this it may feel selfish to be
remember this it may feel selfish to be leaving a situation like you’re
leaving a situation like you’re
leaving a situation like you’re abandoning ship like you’re only
abandoning ship like you’re only
abandoning ship like you’re only thinking of your own needs if you leave
thinking of your own needs if you leave
thinking of your own needs if you leave at that moment you still have energy to
at that moment you still have energy to
at that moment you still have energy to put into other projects are the
put into other projects are the
put into other projects are the relationships to your next steps if you
relationships to your next steps if you
relationships to your next steps if you stay you’re basically as useful as a
stay you’re basically as useful as a
stay you’re basically as useful as a frozen leaf and I want to be clear this
frozen leaf and I want to be clear this
frozen leaf and I want to be clear this isn’t about quitting being better than
isn’t about quitting being better than
isn’t about quitting being better than staying it’s about asking a different
staying it’s about asking a different
staying it’s about asking a different question altogether imagine if you’re in
question altogether imagine if you’re in
question altogether imagine if you’re in a difficult situation at work and it’s
a difficult situation at work and it’s
a difficult situation at work and it’s getting you down if you ask should I go
getting you down if you ask should I go
getting you down if you ask should I go it if immediately brings in connotations
it if immediately brings in connotations
it if immediately brings in connotations of not coping of giving up what if we
of not coping of giving up what if we
of not coping of giving up what if we were like the leaves on the tree and
were like the leaves on the tree and
were like the leaves on the tree and simply asked does it still serve me to
simply asked does it still serve me to
simply asked does it still serve me to be here suddenly there’s a shift from
be here suddenly there’s a shift from
be here suddenly there’s a shift from one of a poisoning of failing and not
one of a poisoning of failing and not
one of a poisoning of failing and not coping to empowerment choice
coping to empowerment choice
coping to empowerment choice responsibility this puts you in the
responsibility this puts you in the
responsibility this puts you in the driving seat and you can make an
driving seat and you can make an
driving seat and you can make an informed decision when you’re hungry you
informed decision when you’re hungry you
informed decision when you’re hungry you eat when you’re tired you sleep when
eat when you’re tired you sleep when
eat when you’re tired you sleep when something no longer serves you
something no longer serves you
something no longer serves you you quit how do you know if something no
you quit how do you know if something no
you quit how do you know if something no longer 30 because quite frankly so often
longer 30 because quite frankly so often
longer 30 because quite frankly so often the stress that has been normalized in
the stress that has been normalized in
the stress that has been normalized in our society is insane and I know that
our society is insane and I know that
our society is insane and I know that when I was teaching I found it hard but
when I was teaching I found it hard but
when I was teaching I found it hard but I hadn’t realized how burnt-out I was I
I hadn’t realized how burnt-out I was I
I hadn’t realized how burnt-out I was I woke up every morning in my final year
woke up every morning in my final year
woke up every morning in my final year of teaching dreading going to work I was
of teaching dreading going to work I was
of teaching dreading going to work I was often so late I was on the bus with my
often so late I was on the bus with my
often so late I was on the bus with my students and I actually ended up in the
students and I actually ended up in the
students and I actually ended up in the hospital
hospital
hospital because I was so dehydrated from my back
because I was so dehydrated from my back
because I was so dehydrated from my back to back coffees and not drinking enough
to back coffees and not drinking enough
to back coffees and not drinking enough water
water
water and I lay in the hospital bed my baked
and I lay in the hospital bed my baked
and I lay in the hospital bed my baked the doctor to let me leave because I had
the doctor to let me leave because I had
the doctor to let me leave because I had to take my students on a school trip and
to take my students on a school trip and
to take my students on a school trip and she was like no you need to stay in that
she was like no you need to stay in that
she was like no you need to stay in that and when I finally left I remembered a
and when I finally left I remembered a
and when I finally left I remembered a summer but your music and dancing my
summer but your music and dancing my
summer but your music and dancing my kitchen
kitchen
kitchen and having this realization that I
and having this realization that I
and having this realization that I hadn’t had that much energy for years
hadn’t had that much energy for years
hadn’t had that much energy for years and she started crying because I was
and she started crying because I was
and she started crying because I was like how could I have been this out of
like how could I have been this out of
like how could I have been this out of touch with myself like I was REME eating
touch with myself like I was REME eating
touch with myself like I was REME eating the me before I started that job and
the me before I started that job and
the me before I started that job and that really scared me because I knew I’d
that really scared me because I knew I’d
that really scared me because I knew I’d been tired but I hadn’t realized how bad
been tired but I hadn’t realized how bad
been tired but I hadn’t realized how bad it had been so when you’re in the thick
it had been so when you’re in the thick
it had been so when you’re in the thick of it how can you tell well what if we
of it how can you tell well what if we
of it how can you tell well what if we did something we very rarely do anymore
did something we very rarely do anymore
did something we very rarely do anymore what if we could take a moment sit in
what if we could take a moment sit in
what if we could take a moment sit in silence and ask our bodies ask our
silence and ask our bodies ask our
silence and ask our bodies ask our bodies this is something I didn’t do at
bodies this is something I didn’t do at
bodies this is something I didn’t do at all when I was teaching but this summer
all when I was teaching but this summer
all when I was teaching but this summer I had a different experience I spent
I had a different experience I spent
I had a different experience I spent five weeks walking across northern Spain
five weeks walking across northern Spain
five weeks walking across northern Spain doing the Camino I don’t know if anyone
doing the Camino I don’t know if anyone
doing the Camino I don’t know if anyone has done it and every day for 35 days I
has done it and every day for 35 days I
has done it and every day for 35 days I had to ask myself how far I wanted to
had to ask myself how far I wanted to
had to ask myself how far I wanted to walk and some days I drove myself mad
walk and some days I drove myself mad
walk and some days I drove myself mad trying to logically work out what the
trying to logically work out what the
trying to logically work out what the right thing to do was like had I walked
right thing to do was like had I walked
right thing to do was like had I walked far enough had I pushed myself enough
far enough had I pushed myself enough
far enough had I pushed myself enough what would it mean if I gave up after
what would it mean if I gave up after
what would it mean if I gave up after six kilometres after a while I started
six kilometres after a while I started
six kilometres after a while I started to ask my feet I was wearing different
to ask my feet I was wearing different
to ask my feet I was wearing different shoes to these that’s my feet what they
shoes to these that’s my feet what they
shoes to these that’s my feet what they wanted to do and at first it seemed
wanted to do and at first it seemed
wanted to do and at first it seemed really weird but I always got a response
really weird but I always got a response
really weird but I always got a response some things they’d be like yes let’s
some things they’d be like yes let’s
some things they’d be like yes let’s walk another 10k and some days they
walk another 10k and some days they
walk another 10k and some days they would go we are stopping at the next
would go we are stopping at the next
would go we are stopping at the next town and we were getting a beer and it
town and we were getting a beer and it
town and we were getting a beer and it was always the right thing the other
was always the right thing the other
was always the right thing the other question I asked my feet was what option
question I asked my feet was what option
question I asked my feet was what option feels like a relief and again it was the
feels like a relief and again it was the
feels like a relief and again it was the right thing like you may feel the relief
right thing like you may feel the relief
right thing like you may feel the relief is going to be the easy option or the
is going to be the easy option or the
is going to be the easy option or the one that takes less effort but sometimes
one that takes less effort but sometimes
one that takes less effort but sometimes it’s a relief to continue and we just
it’s a relief to continue and we just
it’s a relief to continue and we just need that reassurance and in those
need that reassurance and in those
need that reassurance and in those moments we need to draw on our grit and
moments we need to draw on our grit and
moments we need to draw on our grit and resilience but to stop we need to draw
resilience but to stop we need to draw
resilience but to stop we need to draw an honesty
an honesty
an honesty and courage and it doesn’t matter what
and courage and it doesn’t matter what
and courage and it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing yes other people
anyone else is doing yes other people
anyone else is doing yes other people may be able to walk further work harder
may be able to walk further work harder
may be able to walk further work harder love longer your body always intuitive
love longer your body always intuitive
love longer your body always intuitive ly knows what’s best for you so many of
ly knows what’s best for you so many of
ly knows what’s best for you so many of us are putting our lives on hold with
us are putting our lives on hold with
us are putting our lives on hold with this quitting paralysis but what I fling
this quitting paralysis but what I fling
this quitting paralysis but what I fling fascinating is that in the startup world
fascinating is that in the startup world
fascinating is that in the startup world failing fast and changing direction is
failing fast and changing direction is
failing fast and changing direction is essential for the evolution of any idea
essential for the evolution of any idea
essential for the evolution of any idea Steve Jobs famously looked in the mirror
Steve Jobs famously looked in the mirror
Steve Jobs famously looked in the mirror every day and asked am i still happy
every day and asked am i still happy
every day and asked am i still happy with the way I’m living my life and his
with the way I’m living my life and his
with the way I’m living my life and his company did all right in that what if we
company did all right in that what if we
company did all right in that what if we saw ourselves as the entrepreneurs of
saw ourselves as the entrepreneurs of
saw ourselves as the entrepreneurs of our lives instead of quitting
our lives instead of quitting
our lives instead of quitting we’d be innovating updating adapting and
we’d be innovating updating adapting and
we’d be innovating updating adapting and pivoting so that we could function at
pivoting so that we could function at
pivoting so that we could function at our best and bring real value to the
our best and bring real value to the
our best and bring real value to the world what if when people said they
world what if when people said they
world what if when people said they wanted to quit instead of judging them
wanted to quit instead of judging them
wanted to quit instead of judging them we championed them on their great life
we championed them on their great life
we championed them on their great life innovation they’re a cute awareness of
innovation they’re a cute awareness of
innovation they’re a cute awareness of what they need it at that stage in their
what they need it at that stage in their
what they need it at that stage in their life how would that change the amount of
life how would that change the amount of
life how would that change the amount of people signing off work with burnout
people signing off work with burnout
people signing off work with burnout unhappy marriages continuing people
unhappy marriages continuing people
unhappy marriages continuing people feeling totally lost we all have the
feeling totally lost we all have the
feeling totally lost we all have the power to shift this stigma around
power to shift this stigma around
power to shift this stigma around quitting I want in future generations
quitting I want in future generations
quitting I want in future generations people to be saying apparently in the
people to be saying apparently in the
people to be saying apparently in the olden days you weren’t allowed to quit
olden days you weren’t allowed to quit
olden days you weren’t allowed to quit it was really shameful we can do that
it was really shameful we can do that
it was really shameful we can do that but it takes every single one of us and
but it takes every single one of us and
but it takes every single one of us and it takes that question and getting
it takes that question and getting
it takes that question and getting really honest does this still serve me
really honest does this still serve me
really honest does this still serve me the leaves don’t deliberate on when to
the leaves don’t deliberate on when to
the leaves don’t deliberate on when to leave the tree they just fall off when
leave the tree they just fall off when
leave the tree they just fall off when they’re ready they’d freeze to death if
they’re ready they’d freeze to death if
they’re ready they’d freeze to death if they stuck around but instead they
they stuck around but instead they
they stuck around but instead they decompose and give their nutrients to
decompose and give their nutrients to
decompose and give their nutrients to the ground
the ground
the ground and how many changes has it take to take
and how many changes has it take to take
and how many changes has it take to take a light bulb
a light bulb
a light bulb what if our lives were just the same
what if our lives were just the same
what if our lives were just the same twisting and turning adjusting learning
twisting and turning adjusting learning
twisting and turning adjusting learning innovating every day see you gotta asked
innovating every day see you gotta asked
innovating every day see you gotta asked us this still serve me and know the
us this still serve me and know the
us this still serve me and know the answers right for you take a moment of
answers right for you take a moment of
answers right for you take a moment of quiet does this still serve me here you
quiet does this still serve me here you
quiet does this still serve me here you know what you’ve got to do Steve Jobs
know what you’ve got to do Steve Jobs
know what you’ve got to do Steve Jobs looked into the mirror every day and
looked into the mirror every day and
looked into the mirror every day and asked if he still liked what he was
asked if he still liked what he was
asked if he still liked what he was doing if the answer was yes you’d carry
doing if the answer was yes you’d carry
doing if the answer was yes you’d carry on that’s why every one of us carries an
on that’s why every one of us carries an
on that’s why every one of us carries an iPhone remember that life is a constant
iPhone remember that life is a constant
iPhone remember that life is a constant innovation today is just one prototype
innovation today is just one prototype
innovation today is just one prototype it’s not about who’s holding on longest
it’s not about who’s holding on longest
it’s not about who’s holding on longest it’s a question for you what’s right
it’s a question for you what’s right
it’s a question for you what’s right sowhat’s yourself does this still serve
sowhat’s yourself does this still serve
sowhat’s yourself does this still serve me here and know the answers right for
me here and know the answers right for
me here and know the answers right for you take a moment if quiet does this
you take a moment if quiet does this
you take a moment if quiet does this still serve me create space for
still serve me create space for
still serve me create space for something new remember the trees
something new remember the trees
something new remember the trees freezing to death one the trees
freezing to death one the trees
freezing to death one the trees remember the leaves freezing to death on
remember the leaves freezing to death on
remember the leaves freezing to death on the trees remember I know what I’ve got
the trees remember I know what I’ve got
the trees remember I know what I’ve got he change I’ve gotta ask right for me
he change I’ve gotta ask right for me
he change I’ve gotta ask right for me take a moment of quiet
take a moment of quiet
take a moment of quiet they still love me I know what I’ve got
they still love me I know what I’ve got
they still love me I know what I’ve got to do the leaves don’t ask permission to
to do the leaves don’t ask permission to
to do the leaves don’t ask permission to fall down thanks very much
fall down thanks very much
fall down thanks very much [Applause]
”
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