I recently announced to my email list that I’m quitting my podcast for now. Actually, I turned it into a teachable lesson where I explained how it’s okay to quit a project. I even encouraged my list to share some of the things they were quitting with me.
To my surprise, many of them responded with “Thank you! This was the permission slip I needed!” Since then, I know some readers have quit a project or two that no longer served them. If you’re thinking about quitting a project, here’s how to tell whether or not you should do it.
You no longer enjoy it.
I no longer enjoy creating a podcast. There I said it. It was starting to feel like more of a chore than a creative project that moved my business forward. I believe that as soon as something starts to feel this way, then it’s time to quit a project.
Granted, this applies for things you don’t actually have to do. I don’t enjoy paying taxes, but I still have to pay them. I also don’t enjoy invoicing, but it needs to get done. This is more for things you’ve chosen aren’t bound to do.
You can’t keep up with it.
Part of the reason why I find it difficult to enjoy making a podcast is because I find it difficult to stay consistent. My travel schedule last year made it nearly impossible to maintain a set schedule. Additionally, I have other priorities as a business owner that I need to get done in between travels.
In 2018, things haven’t gotten any easier. I’m going through business changes and team shakeups. And, once again, other things are higher on the priority list. As a result, podcasting is falling to the wayside which means it’s time to quit.
If we’re being honest with ourselves, we take on plenty of things that aren’t at the top of the priority list. If you’re experiencing this, then it’s time to quit a project you can’t commit to.
You’re not seeing results.
After two years of trying to podcast, I’m simply not getting the results I’m looking for. If anything, it’s costing me time and money and yielding nothing for me. Or, at least, it’s not yielding anything new.
Most of the money I make isn’t because of a podcast. It’s because of content marketing usually in the form of writing. Even my consulting and influencer gigs come as a result of written content, not a podcast.
In other words, I have to make a logical business decision. If it’s not getting me results and I’m wasting valuable time, then I have to quit a project. And sometimes, these types of decisions really are just a matter of doing what makes logical sense.
Final Thoughts
If you also just quit a project that wasn’t working, then I commend you because it’s not always easy. Am I going to miss my podcast? A little, but not really. I now feel like I got a lot of time back to focus on things I do enjoy and that actually make me money online.
