Three reasons why you should not quit

We all know it by head: ‘success’ creates an illusion.

From a spectator’s point of view, successful people seem to be different from the rest of us. Perhaps, they are genius, rich, or just very, very lucky, and we, who see everyday survival as a struggle in itself, think life is unfair. We think we are unfortunate, stuck in a rut, and made for a hard life where the things we desire cannot come as easy to us.

I sit here, thinking of my friends, students, and acquaintances who perceive me as ‘successful’ and ‘more favored’ by God. I find it funny: I am neither a genius nor rich. I don’t think I am very, very lucky. I want to tell them I may have wins, but I am always burned out. I want to tell them I find myself stuck in a rut from time to time. I want to tell them we are not different, and they, too, are successful in another person’s eyes.

Scribblory will celebrate its fifth year in August, three days away from today, and I can’t help but recall the many times I considered quitting and closing this business. The journey has not been a glide. In fact, it has not been a breeze from the start—even up to this point. But akin to editing a piece, I deal with every mess, clean it up, and offer it as refined and polished as I could to the people I serve, often than not, without any trace of tears and toil. Despite it all, though, Scribblory persists. We, I, did not quit. And I want to tell you why.

1. I can’t help but care about the people I serve.
   
   The idea of quitting is also a question of: “How much do I believe in the service I can offer?” I have this constant itch to help any writer who needs guidance. I know I can give them something good; I’ve spent years studying, practicing, and figuring that out. So, taking down my business is like closing a door to them.
   
   I also can’t get my writing community out of my mind. Just thinking of how much they believe in Scribblory makes my knees weak. They enjoy being with their fellow writers, and they take pride in the Scribblory stamp. How dare I even think of quitting? They deserve much more than my ‘poor’ self. I may be called the ‘founder’ and ‘managing director’ of this company, but these wonderful people are really the ones who run it and keep it alive.
   
2. I surrender big problems to my big God.
   
   I’ve noticed that the more I hold on to a problem, the less likely it gets solved. Especially in terms of financial concerns, letting go is difficult. Even the mere thought of having to ‘loosen my grip’ on it is humbling. But God always finds a way to remind me that when I feel too small for my big problems, I should surrender them to my big God.
   
   By now, God has already proven to me many times that Scribblory is His will. He is the boss, and that means I should consult Him before every step, every decision, and every change I make. When there’s confusion, I must go to Him for clarity. When there’s a lack, I must go to Him for provision. When there’s failure, I must go to Him who holds victory.
   
3. I love and receive love.
   
   Love gives courage. This applies not only to those who give love but also for those who receive love. You become braver to take risks, to give new ideas a try, and to step up when you know that whatever happens, you will still be loved anyway.
   
   Running a business can be onerous. It can break you and shatter your confidence into ribbons, so it’s important to have a home to go to, where you can take off your armor and feel okay to be weak. For me, I find home in my family, music, books, arts, and other things outside work. This is why you and I should never sacrifice our ‘other loves’ for work no matter how much we love what we do.

There’s still a long way ahead of me. Five years aren’t much yet, and I know I have so much more to learn. But I am happy to write this piece today, words I can go back to when things become way more challenging. When that time comes, I can at least be reminded that the only way to fail anything is to quit—and there are three and more reasons why I shouldn’t. And no matter how hard things seem to be now, even though our goal still looks beyond reach, I am sure that you and I have every chance to succeed as long as we soldier on.

More about this at The Write to Teach Podcast: Is It Time to Quit?
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