What happens after you finally admit the grind stopped working? That is where part two of this conversation with journalist Lindsay Crouse picks up.
Lindsay and JP dig into the physical cost of never backing off, talk through Simone Biles' 2021 Olympic decision, and unpack the "never enough" trap that keeps high achievers chasing a finish line that keeps moving. Lindsay also shares why she left a stable job for an uncertain one at The New York Times, and why she believes quitting is a muscle you build through practice, not a moment you arrive at with total certainty.
If part one left you rethinking what perseverance actually costs, this episode gives you a way to start putting it into practice.
Chapters(00:00) The Michael Phelps Burnout Pattern3 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 Resource
Your fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas.
"Our culture teaches us that quitting is a failure, that we didn't try hard enough. But quitting can be the first step to something better."
Lindsay Crouse
"I think about some of the people I respect a lot. They've quit things, and I've really respected them for how they quit and the reasons why they quit."
JP Nerbun
"You just have to build this muscle around quitting. That's really the only way that we can grow."
Lindsay Crouse
Q1: What's one situation where you're pushing an athlete, or yourself, toward more, when the data or the body is already telling you it's time to pull back?
Q2: If quitting is a muscle, when's the last time you actually practiced it, on purpose, in something small?
1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Case for Quitting by Lindsay Crouse
A 15 year New York Times veteran makes the research-backed case that stepping back is often the braver, smarter choice than pushing through.
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