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Nothing worth having comes easily. You’ve heard that before. But do you ever have those moments when you’re pursuing your career goals and you wonder, “But is it worth this?” “This” being the total exhaustion. The constant rejection. The setbacks that feel insurmountable, like that one person who was going to get you an interview at their company but then they got let go. Or that investor who was going to funnel money into your business but had some financially catastrophic event that made them pull out. The huge publication that was going to run a story on you, but then, a major news event swooped that slot, and your story never ran. Maybe you got so close to being a finalist or a winner of some competition, and at the last minute, you had a personal crisis that made you have to pull out.
Almost anyone with goals and ambition has had these huge letdowns. The moment you care about something, letdowns are just part of the process. But feeling like you want to give up isn’t a sign that you should. You can be certain anyone you admire who achieved great things felt like giving up a thousand times. Imagine if they had. They wouldn’t be who they are today. Of course, that reality doesn’t make those moments when you want to give up any easier. We collected quotes from Black career coaches, business strategists, and motivational speakers that you can look at when you want to give up on your career goals.
The only thing that matters is now
This quote comes from Lisa Nichols. Nichols is the founder of Motivating the Masses and CEO of Motivating the Teen Spirit, LLC and one of the most-requested professional speakers. When you have moments in which you’re dwelling on your past – on the mistakes you’ve made and the wrong turns you took – this quote reminds you that that is just that. The past. You don’t need to let that define who you can be tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be a mark of shame you carry with you. Release it.
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Worthiness isn’t complicated
Akilah Bernard is the founder of the I Am B.E.A.U.T.Y boot camp that empowers young Black girls to pursue their goals and feel emboldened in going after their dreams. If you’ve ever had feelings of, “Well who am I to think I’m worthy of greatness?” Or “What makes me so special, that I should deserve to be extremely successful?” look at this quote she re-posted from BK Yoga Club. You don’t need to have something “special” about you. You’re alive. You want things. You feel things. So you’re worthy.
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Everyone else is just noise
Career Coach Candyss is the founder of Demand Development, a platform that helps with career strategizing through one-on-one coaching and long-term courses. Her quote brings up all of the noise we hear when pursuing goals. It’s hard to ignore what others may think of you. But, if you’re waiting for a day when every single person believes in you in order to pursue your goals, you’ll be waiting for eternity. You only need one person to believe in you: you. The other opinions are just noise.
There’s no victory without rejection(s)
Luvvie Ajayi Jones is the best-selling author of the book “I’m Judging You.” It’s always so inspiring when hugely successful individuals publish their failure stories. It’s so important to those who are still hustling out there. We can forget that those who made it went through all of the things we’re going through. They weren’t “blessed” or “gifted” or “prodigal.” They were just people who kept on going. Rejection after rejection.
Success is the sum of the parts
Ms. Queen. Ro is a life and career coach who also helps people learn how to promote their business. This quote can be the little boost you need when you want to give up. Success doesn’t come from one event, one day. It doesn’t stem from one isolated effort. It stems from what you do, every day. So even the small steps you can take today when you’re tired – they’re getting you somewhere.
If you’re hurting, you’re learning
Dominique Worship offers one-on-one coaching, coaching for organizations, strategizing, and more customized programs. Her quote reminds us to reframe moments when things don’t go our way. That pain you feel during a setback – that’s a growing pain. It’s a learning pain. So, it’s a good thing, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.
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What are you doing to change things?
This quote comes from Witty Careers, which was founded by Simi Awokoya. Witty Careers focuses on helping women in tech, specifically in corporate settings, advance their careers. This quote is a reminder that, when you experience a setback, it can be worth asking yourself some important questions. Like, “Have I been asking mentors and higher-ups for feedback?” and “Have I been celebrating my wins so I can receive energy from those for tough moments?”
Don’t mistake fatigue for defeat
This is such a simple but wonderful quote from career coach Apryl Evans. It’s unrealistic to expect to feel energized every single day and every single hour. But, if we feel we are meant to quit during moments of exhaustion, it proves that, to some degree, we do believe we are supposed to feel energized every minute. That’s just not so. A small break can get you back in the game. What a shame it would be to walk away when all you needed was a moment on the bench.
Get comfortable with discomfort
Ms. Robinson, MSM, is the CEO of EmpowerU Career Coaching. This quote is an excellent reminder that if you’ve just had an event that left you feeling defeated, overwhelmed, or out of your element, good. That means you put yourself out of our comfort zone. Embrace that discomfort. Your ability to venture into it is why you’ll get far.
Don’t like the script? Re-write it yourself
JaWand Morris, MA, CPC, ELI-MP is the founder of Jawand Morris Coaching. This quote can be useful at times when, you feel defeated because the energy of those around you is heavy, dark, oppressive, or defeatist itself. Rather than take it on, maybe you can be the presence that turns it around. Maybe you can elevate everyone around you, rather than let them bring you down. What an amazing gift to give others, and yourself.
This Pity Party Is Cancelled
The Mindset Mistress is a business coach who posted this very real quote that may be hard to see, but useful. There’s power in remembering how small we are. It actually emboldens us to feel we can do whatever we want. Our story is one of millions. And it is true that whatever you’re going through or unhappy about, there is something you can do about it. Complaining doesn’t count. Neither does compare, as there will always be someone whose struggle is worse than yours.
Feelings evaporate
Career coach Deirdre Orr reminds us of something very important with this quote: your feelings aren’t things. They’re valid. You can acknowledge them. But they aren’t things. They aren’t real obstacles. They’re ghosts. So stop letting them stop you, as if they were tangible obstacles. Wave them out of the air like the dust that they are, and move on.
Your capacity to take on challenge only grows
DeAnnah Stinson Reese is the founder of E3 Professional services. She’s touching on something very real in her quote which is that a lot of people stop pursuing their dreams because they’re afraid of what’s on the other side. Success, fame, money…these things can bring what feels like a storm. Conquering today’s challenges might only mean ushering in larger ones. That’s okay. None of that is any reason to stop. In fact, if you handle the challenges that get you to success, you can handle the challenges that come with it.
Your pain made you who you are
This quote comes from the “No Small Talk” podcast that focuses on making meaningful connections in your field. It’s a gentle reminder that, whatever you have today and whoever you are today – your pain is a part of it. The things you love today are products of experiences you hated. They’re products of all of your experiences – the good and the bad. So if you’re going through something rough today, tomorrow, it will also be part of the fabric that makes up your achievements.
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Show up for yesterday’s you
Career coach Sandy Sanders encourages us to remember all of the work we already put in. Don’t disrespect you of the past – you from yesterday who worked so damn hard – by walking away now. You didn’t just wake up here. You put in the work to get here. Whatever platform or success you have now was all you. You dishonor yourself by walking away now.
