“Nobody likes a quitter.”
I’ve heard this and I’m sure you have too. But I’m not sure that quitting something is always a bad thing. As usual, let me use TV to explain.
Dallas: We just watched every episode of this series during the pandemic. It ran from 1976 – 1991. In the early years, it was sort of clunky but by the middle years, you could not turn away. The weekly cliffhangers kept you coming back for more. But towards the end, the story lines got a bit too outlandish and the series ended probably a year after it should have with JR Ewing being visited by an angel.
LA Law: This 1980s drama had some great characters and tackled social issues that hadn’t been explored before. But like Dallas, it went on about two seasons more than it should and by the final episodes, it was a watercooler talking point: “Can you believe how bad LA Law is this season?”
Happy Days: This sitcom ran from 1974 – 1984. It made Ron Howard and Henry Winkler into major stars and drew young, as well as nostalgic older viewers. But Happy Days will always be associated with the term “jumping the shark” which was from a ratings-chasing episode where Fonzie jumped over a shark tank with water skis, leather jacket and all. It went on a few more years, but the magic was gone.
On the other hand, there is Seinfeld.
I was listening to Tim Ferriss’ podcast interview with Jerry Seinfeld and the topic of the TV show came up. Jerry Seinfeld was offered $5 million per episode to keep the series running after 1998, but he turned it down. He wanted to leave on a high note rather than squeeze more out of the show. Turns out, the final episode was the worst one, and I wonder if that would have been the case with an entire additional season.
We could repeat this sequence over and over with entertainers, athletes, and celebrities who stayed in the game too long. All of us and everything we do, has a shelf-life.
How do we know if we’re nearing a (professional) expiration date?
- Our Results. When was the last “win?” What was the most significant accomplishment?
- Our Learning. How long has it been since you last read a book? Listened to a podcast? Done some professional development training?
- Our Appearance. When have you last updated your hair style, wardrobe, and shoes? Right or wrong, we get judged by our appearance far more than our accomplishments.
By being intentional about our development, I think we all have the potential to be continuous winners rather than one-hit wonders. And, if we’re careful, we can make a lifestyle of growth and accomplishment, which means quitting what needs to be quitted, and filling the void with something even more valuable.
It’s still early in the year so why not begin the journey now?
