I’m in the middle of a “Get Healthy Challenge” and about 31 pounds over my goal weight. I don’t even like writing that, let alone publicizing it. I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life. I don’t like my clothes feeling too tight, I don’t like having to wear a larger size, and I certainly don’t like giving up my favorite foods. But here I am. I’m seven weeks in and 8 pounds down, but the last thing I want to do is eat a salad or go for a walk. So here I sit at a crossroad. Keep working towards my goal, or give up and get the Ben and Jerry’s in the freezer.

We all want to quit at one point or another. The desire to quit or give up is normal. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want normal. Normal is how most businesses fail. Normal is being overweight. Normal is ordinary. I want more than normal. I want extraordinary. I want an extraordinary business and I want my clients to have extraordinary results!

It’s amazing to think about, but even Jesus came to this point near the end of His life when He said, “if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me.” Yet He continued, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You.” Amazing! What amazing devotion! And I know what many of you are thinking. Jesus? Really? It’s Jesus. Of course Jesus can do anything. But there are countless stories that we can pull from to find the inspiration to never quit from Richard Branson to Bill Gates to Thomas Edison.

Nevertheless, even as I write this, there are people I personally know who are thinking of giving up, giving in, or have already walked away from their dreams, the things they know they are supposed to be doing, or any number of goals. And while I am no Michael Jordan or Henry Ford, I hope I can encourage you to NOT give up— so here goes!

7 Reasons to Not Give In or Give Up

1) Your haters win

It may or may not surprise you, but you have people who are rooting against you. There is a great quote that hung in my oldest brother’s room growing up: “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.” Don’t let them win! Prove them wrong!

2) You are creating a habit of quitting

It’s weird. Creating a bad habit always seems easier than creating good one. Likewise, bad habits seem to take more work to get rid of. Quitting and persistence are both habitual. The question is, which habit will you develop?

3) You are on the other side of success

So often people seem to quit right before they cross over into success. Thomas Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Keep pushing!

4) You are letting your fears win

You are destined for greatness. Of that I have no doubt. Most people don’t realize the amazing potential they hold. Sadly, our fear paralyze us from success. Conquer your fears and don’t give up!

5) You will always wonder what could have been

Regret is a horrible thing to endure. What if you didn’t give up? What if you didn’t quit? Avoid regret by not giving up!

6) You won’t develop the character traits you need to win

Romans 5:4 tells us, “And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Keep persevering! Don’t give up!

7) You won’t inspire others

We need you! We need your ideas! We need your dreams! You can be the next inspiration that people look to.

So I’m not heading to the freezer tonight, I’m not eating Ben & Jerry’s, and most of all I’m not giving up and neither should you!