Why Quitting Isn’t Failure—It’s Smart Strategy
A Reframe for High-Achieving Women Ready to Redefine Success
We’ve all heard the mantras: Never give up. Hustle harder. Push through.
For high-achieving women—eldest daughters, perfectionists, overachievers—quitting can feel like the one thing we’re absolutely not allowed to do. Somewhere along the way, we learned that stopping means failing. That walking away means we weren’t strong, disciplined, or dedicated enough to make it work.
But what if that’s not the truth?
What if quitting isn’t a weakness—but a wise, self-honoring move?
The Cultural Obsession With Grit Is Burning Us Out
Inspired by Katie Williams’ How to Quit Trying, I’ve been thinking a lot about the pressure to “keep going no matter what.” For many women in business and leadership, burnout isn’t a result of doing too little. It’s the outcome of pushing too hard for too long—because we were taught our worth is tied to how much we can carry.
The truth? Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a sign something needs to change.
When Letting Go Is the Boldest Move
Not long ago, I made the difficult decision to quit something I once deeply loved. It was a project I cared about—a space I built with purpose. But over time, it stopped giving back. It drained my energy, left me disconnected from my own needs, and consumed far more than it returned.
Still, I resisted walking away. Quitting felt like a betrayal of everything I said I stood for.
But I had changed.
My values had shifted.
And holding on to something out of fear or obligation was costing me my mental health.
So, I let it go.
Quitting Isn’t the Problem—What We Think It Means Is
At first, I didn’t feel relief—I felt shame. That inner voice (the one conditioned by years of people-pleasing and perfectionism) told me I was giving up. That I just needed to try harder. That I was letting people down.
But I’ve learned that our fear of quitting is often about what we believe quitting says about us: That we’re lazy. Weak. Unreliable. Selfish.
Here’s the truth:
Knowing when to quit is emotional intelligence in action.
It’s leadership.
It’s self-trust.
And for many women—especially those raised to always be the helper, the achiever, the one who holds it all together—quitting can be the most radical act of self-care.
Signs It Might Be Time to Quit (or Reevaluate)
If you’re questioning whether to let go of a role, project, relationship, or business commitment, ask yourself:
Am I staying because I want to—or because I feel like I should?
Is this giving me energy, or constantly draining me?
If I let this go, what space could open up for something better?
What advice would I give a friend in this exact situation?
Your body usually knows first. Burnout, anxiety, irritability, and dread are signals—not failures. If something feels heavy all the time, it might not be aligned anymore.
Redefining Success for Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders
Let’s normalize a version of success that includes:
Rest and recovery
Mental health as a metric
The freedom to pivot or walk away
Permission to change your mind
You are allowed to quit.
You are allowed to outgrow what no longer fits.
You are allowed to make space for what does.
Quitting doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re choosing alignment over obligation.
The Bottom Line: Stop to Move Forward
If no one’s told you this lately:
You’re not failing if you walk away.
You’re not broken for feeling tired.
You’re not weak for choosing peace over performance.
Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do for your business, your mental health, and your life… is stop.
And in that stillness, you just might find your next right step.
Want more conversations like this? Join Hive Ambition — a community for women building sustainable businesses without sacrificing their sanity.
