Quotes that hit home

[buckworks]

"Don't quit when you're tired; quit when you're done!"

[ergophobe]

"Don't quit when you're tired; quit when you're done!"

This is how mountaineers die. Of course, it's also how they get to the top. As I like to say, "The human capacity for continuing to put one foot in front of the other is surprising." One of the main things you learn from doing hard endurance things is that from the moment you feel like you can't go on until the moment you actually can't go on, could result in a doubling or tripling of how far you can go.

But not knowing when to quit leads to side effects, such as death. And more generally, in life, not knowing when to take a break and recharge leads to inefficiencies and globally longer periods to actually reach your goal. This is well known from studies going back to the 19th century, and especially from studies in the British munitions industry during The Great War. More recently from studies in the software industry.

So I've always preferred the Zen master's answer to the question "What is the secret to life?"

When hungry, I eat. When tired, I sleep.

:-)

[buckworks]

Quitting is different than just taking a break, but I take your point about the value of taking a break.

How about "Rest, then resume" ?

[Brad]

"Sleep is a weapon too."  Walter Jon Williams

[ergophobe]

but I take your point

And I take yours too of course (you have one of my "Fac Res Difficila" challenge coins right? If not, let me know and I'll bring one to dinner... week after next I guess).

I definitely get the point of the quote and don't disagree, but at the same time, I think one of my biggest weaknesses is not knowing when to quit. I've been trying to get better at quitting :-)

The tough part is being able to see when it's worth pushing on and when one should quit. I err in both directions, that's for sure.

Marc Twight, one of the great American mountaineers, coined (AFAIK) the phrase "failing upward." Failing upward is when you should have quit, but didn't, and your only way to extricate yourself from your decision, is to go to the top. He calls it failing upward because he would say anytime you have lost control of the situation and your only option is a high-risk run for the summit, you've "failed upwards." I find that a helpful heuristic.

[Rupert]

"Fac Res Difficila" challenge coins

A quick google search found nothing?

[ergophobe]

"Fac Res Difficila" challenge coins

A quick google search found nothing?

One of a kind. I designed them and had them minted. It's Latin for "Do Hard Things" - I gave one to everyone who came to dinner at Pubcon two (?) years ago. Littleman's deadlifting daughter received one too.

[buckworks]

I never got one. I'd love to ...

[littleman]

My kids keeps her's on her bookshelf.

[Rupert]

Thanks.. love it. 

I dont suppose you would care to share the design? 

[ergophobe]

I never got one. I'd love to ...

You must have missed that dinner at Pubcon - everyone there got one. I'll bring some next week.

>>share the design

Mmm... sort of a weird thing, but no, I'd rather not share the design online anywhere. I actually hesitated to mention the coin in public. I've occasionally thought about trying to sell it, but because of the way it came into being, I've preferred to keep it among friends.

I would be *thrilled* to send you one though. PM me a mailing address and wait two weeks. I enjoy sending them to people who might appreciate them.

>>keeps her's on her bookshelf

That's sweet. And that's why I don't want the design shared too much. Most who receive it are indifferent. But for some people it's sort of unique thing that comes at a good time and that you can't get elsewhere. I want to keep it that way.

[Rupert]

But for some people it's sort of unique thing that comes at a good time and that you can't get elsewhere.

Thats what I was thinking... the design will be unique

I would be *thrilled* to send you one though.

WOW>  the thrill is all mine!

[littleman]

"bet on the innovators, not the forecasters"

-- Ramez Naam
(good lecture on the rise of alternative energy)

[buckworks]

Seen on a forum:

"You know you are old if you fall down and people rush to help, rather than laughing."

[simplytheresa]

"This is the final exam for democracy."  - Bob Woodward from his Masterclass pitch.