Why Quitting Gets Harder the More You Try

Question and Thought for the Day February 9, 2025

Thought of the Day:
“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” — Vince Lombardi

Question of the Day:
What’s a memorable Super Bowl commercial?

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I don’t know if Vince Lombardi meant that as encouragement or as a warning. Either way, he wasn’t wrong. The deeper you invest yourself into something—whether it’s a career, a dream, a relationship, or a personal goal—the harder it becomes to just walk away.

That’s not to say surrender is always bad. Sometimes, quitting is the smartest thing you can do. The trick is knowing when you’re walking away from a lost cause and when you’re just running from the grind.

Because let’s be honest—sometimes things don’t work out. No matter how much effort you put in, how many late nights you burn, or how badly you want it. And yet, when you’ve truly given something your all, it becomes almost impossible to quit. Not because of stubbornness, but because you’ve poured too much of yourself into it to let it go without a fight.

That’s why the greats—whether in sports, business, or life—don’t just casually step away. They make sure they’ve left every last ounce of effort on the field before they decide it’s time.

Lombardi coached his players to believe that pain and exhaustion were just part of the process. That giving up wasn’t an option. Maybe that’s why his name is on the Super Bowl trophy.

And speaking of the Super Bowl…

The Real MVPs of the Super Bowl: The Commercials

You don’t have to be a football fan to have a favorite Super Bowl commercial. Over the years, the ads have almost become more important than the game itself.

Was it the Budweiser Clydesdales tugging at your heartstrings? The iconic Wassup! from Bud Light? The shock of Apple’s “1984” ad that changed the game forever? Or maybe it was Betty White getting tackled in a Snickers commercial, reminding us that “You’re not you when you’re hungry.”

Super Bowl commercials stick with us because they’re more than ads—they’re stories, jokes, and cultural moments. Just like a great play on the field, a great ad becomes part of the highlight reel of our memories.

So, what’s the most memorable Super Bowl commercial you’ve ever seen? And more importantly—why do you think it stuck with you?

Let me know in the comments.