What if Quitting Was the Only Failure?

We've all heard the advice: Never quit. But what if that's exactly what's keeping you from the life and leadership you want? In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider challenges one of the most deeply held beliefs about success. Drawing from leadership psychology, decision-making research, and personal experiences navigating entrepreneurship, caregiving, illness, and major life transitions, Kari explores why the real danger isn't quitting—it's quitting for the wrong reasons or refusing to walk away when wisdom is calling you forward. You'll discover: The two hidden reasons people quit too early. The two psychological traps that keep us committed long after we should let go. How top leaders make better decisions by pre-defining success before emotions take over. Annie Duke's powerful concept of "kill criteria" and why every leader needs one. Why surrender is not weakness—it's earned clarity. Whether you're leading a business, navigating a relationship, making a career decision, or pursuing a personal goal, this episode will give you a completely different framework for evaluating success, failure, and courage. If you've ever wondered whether to keep going or let go, this conversation may provide the clarity you've been searching for. Key Topics Leadership decision-making Self-mastery Quitting vs. perseverance The sunk cost fallacy Identity and failure Annie Duke's "Thinking in Bets" and "Quit" Defining success before you begin Radical acceptance Leadership mindset Personal growth Resource List — Researchers Cited Geert Hofstede — organizational psychologist; originated uncertainty avoidance. → Overview: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/sociology/uncertainty-avoidance Hal Arkes & Catherine Blumer — "The Psychology of Sunk Cost," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 1985. → ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0749597885900494 Barry Staw — "Knee-Deep in the Big Muddy: A Study of Escalating Commitment to a Chosen Course of Action," Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 1976. → ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0030507376900052 → Free full PDF: https://strategy.sjsu.edu/www.stable/B290/reading/Staw,%20B%20M,%201976,%20Organizational%20Behavior%20and%20Human%20Performance.%2016%20pp%2027-44.pdf Annie Duke — Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, 2022. → Publisher page: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692752/quit-by-annie-duke/ Marsha Linehan — DBT Skills Training Manual, 2nd ed., Guilford Press, 2014. → Publisher page: https://www.guilford.com/books/DBT-Skills-Training-Manual/Marsha-Linehan/9781462515793