Best Motivation: “Try, Try, Again Daddy.”

Don't let fear stop you from trying again.

The second Friday of January has passed, the day that is internationally celebrated as Quitters Day. Many people may not celebrate Quitters Day or even recognize it as a thing; however, as a life coach, it’s one of the more significant holidays just after Christmas and Thanksgiving (sarcasm). This Quitters Day, and I celebrated it with my two-year-old daughter.

Just after a hearty pancake breakfast and before watching Frosty the Snowman again for the 54th time this week, even though Christmas ended weeks ago, my daughter wanted to build a princess castle out of blocks. I sat there and watched her build a home for her imaginary princess, pushing the limits to go higher and higher. As the castle got to its tipping point, it collapsed. After the final brick had fallen, my daughter and I locked eyes. I saw this moment only going two ways. 1. Complete meltdown with her fling blocks throughout the house or her wanting to give up and turn our attention to Bluey Candyland. But the following moment made me proud to be a father when she said, “Don’t worry, Daddy, I’ll try again.”

Her resilience and determination in the face of failure were a powerful reminder that setbacks are not the end but an opportunity for growth and learning. Quitters Day has been set aside for two-thirds of people who decide to give up on their New Year Resolution. But it’s not just a day for giving up. It’s a day for renewal, for recommitting to our goals, and for finding the strength to “try, try, again. Quitters Day has started to gain more and more momentum over the years. However, even with its negative tone for a name, it seems many people forget what the context of this day is for. It’s not a day to quit but a day to reevaluate and recommit.Quitters Day is a day meant for you to take a moment to look back at the start of your goal and re-analyze how you have started. There are many reasons why New Year’s resolutions don’t succeed. It’s not just about setting lofty goals or poor planning. Often, it’s about setting goals that we don’t truly connect with or are not aligned with our values and priorities. However, what is usually missed in setting a New Year’s resolution is defining what success looks like.

Often, when a goal is set, this is a person’s only vision. However, behavior change is gradual, and new habitats take 66 days to become routine. You will burn out if you only look at the end goal for 66 days. Every day, it is important to take notice of your small wins in your behavior change. If you want to lose 10 lbs but haven’t lost an ounce in the past two weeks, that’s okay. Did you take the time to plan a new diet? Did you connect with a friend over a walk? Did you think about your health? These small wins will continue to fill your cup towards your goal.

To help make my point, I’ll use a common sports analogy since I am a sports guy. Every year, every team sets out to win a championship. However, only one team can accomplish that. Does this make the season for the rest of the teams a failure? Teams and players that don’t want to grow and improve will see it that way. Teams and players who wish to enhance see it as a stepping stone. Don’t believe me? Listen to this interview with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

How will you celebrate this holiday as we move forward from Quitters Friday in 2025? For me, it’s simple: I redefine success, celebrate my small wins, and pick up the blocks with my 2-year-old daughter while saying, ” Try, Try, Again, Daddy.”