Wait, There’s A Day for Quitters!?

Author

Ed Clementi
January 20, 2025

At a time when there's now a national day for everything - National Donut Day, National Sibling Day, even National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (yes, that’s real)—I recently learned about another: National Quitters Day.

At first, I laughed. Is this a joke? A day to celebrate throwing in the towel? But then I looked into it. Turns out, it’s not a joke at all. National Quitters Day is recognized on the second Friday of January, the day when most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions. This year, it landed on January 10th.

To be honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Most resolutions, in my experience, hang on until at least February before quietly fizzling out. But January 10th? That’s less than two weeks into the year. It feels comically tragic, doesn’t it? We barely start before we stop.

But when I stopped laughing, I realized something deeper: this day, as absurd as it sounds, represents a sobering truth. Most people quit.

The Masses Quit. The Few Rise Above.

Let’s face it—pursuing change, sticking to goals, doing something hard—these things aren’t for everyone. The masses will always drift back to the familiar, the comfortable, the easy.

It’s not because they don’t want better for themselves. It’s because better requires sacrifice. Growth demands discomfort. Staying committed? That means you’ll have to confront your doubts, your fears, and - maybe hardest of all—your excuses.

Most people don’t want to do that. That’s why they quit.

But the greatest opportunities in life, the moments where you make yourself proud, are on the other side of discomfort. Leveling up comes when you differentiate yourself—not just from others but from the version of you that’s satisfied with less.

And that’s what makes this moment—right now as you read this—so important.

We’re in Week Three—How Are You Looking?

By now, the sparkle of January 1st has probably faded. The promises you made to yourself to eat better, work harder, push further, level up, or try something new might already feel… heavy.

You’re not alone in that feeling. Most resolutions fail because they’re built on enthusiasm, not commitment. Enthusiasm gets you started; commitment keeps you going.

So, as we enter the third week of the year, I want to ask you a question: Are you still committed? Or has National Quitters Day claimed you too?

This is the perfect time to pause and take stock. Look at the goals you set. Reflect on why they mattered to you. And then ask yourself: Am I on track to make this year different?

If the answer is no, here’s the good news: it’s not too late. Let this serve as an accountability check.

Make This the Year You Make Yourself Proud

The masses will always quit. The masses will let doubt and distraction pull them off course. The masses will tell themselves, I’ll start again next Monday. Or next month. Or next year.

But you don’t have to follow the masses.

Let this be the year you rise above. This is the year you break free from the patterns that have held you back and step into a version of yourself you can be proud of. This is the year you realize change—because you chose to stay committed, even when it got hard.

How? You do it by doing what the masses won’t.

  1. Stick to the Plan: Revisit your goals and make them specific. Break them down into smaller, daily actions. Focus on consistency over perfection.

  2. Push Through Resistance: Expect setbacks. They’re part of the process. But instead of letting them derail you, let them teach you. Learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.

  3. Differentiate Yourself: The masses live in the comfort zone. The high-achievers, the difference-makers? They thrive outside of it. Be the person who dares to be different.

  4. Speak Your Goals Out Loud: This one is a little secret I use…, share your goals with others. It’s funny how we’re more willing to let ourselves down than others. When you tell people your goals, you create a natural drive not to disappoint. Use this to your advantage and turn your words into commitments.

A Reminder From Thoreau—and From Me

Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”It’s the internal, often unspoken feeling of discontent that comes from settling for less than you’re capable of. Desperation may cause discomfort, but it’s a passive kind—the lingering unease of knowing you’re not living the life you truly want. It requires nothing of you—no risks, no action, no growth.

Differentiation, on the other hand, is hard. It’s the active discomfort of pushing boundaries, making intentional choices, and stepping into the life you deserve. But it’s also the path to fulfillment—the path that will make you look back on this year and feel proud of what you’ve done.

If you’ve already stumbled, that’s okay. What matters now is what you do next. Will you rise above the noise? Will you step outside the crowd? Will you make yourself proud? (ooh, that rhymed)🙂.

A Final Challenge

Imagine it’s December 31st, 2025. You’re looking back on this year. What do you want to feel? Regret or Pride?

That choice starts today. It starts with refusing to give in to the noise, the doubt, and the excuses. It starts with showing up, every single day, for yourself.

Be relentless. Be different. Be the person who proves National Quitters Day wrong.

Because the best things in life never come to those who quit.

P.S. This weekend, I held a Masterclass, "Going From Invisible to Influential," to help with career and leadership journeys. I streamed Day 2 on LinkedIn Live, and it’s now available to view. If you take the time to watch, I’m confident you’ll find golden nuggets to help you on your way. https://www.linkedin.com/events/day2-frominvisibletoinfluential7286563913091932161/theater/

With Absolute Sincerity,

Ed Clementi, Founder & CEO of Inspired Fire, LLC

Make an Impact.  Feel an Impact.