Think winners never quit? Ankur Warikoo says the opposite and explains what successful people walk away from

When we think of someone whom we consider to be a winner, we associate not giving up or not quitting as one of the distinguishing qualities of winning. This idea, that successfull people never quit is deeply rooted in how achievement is perceived and portrayed. However, Ankur Warikoo begs to differ as he challenges this very belief. He argues that "winners quit all the time", which implies that a successful person knows when to walk away and when to persist. Be it a toxic job, unhealthy relationships or unhelpul decisions taken that no longer work in your favour, Warikoo firmly believes that one should quit if something stops serving their growth.

Winners know when to walk away

Ankur Warikoo took to social media to share his perspective on why quitting does not necessarily signal failure and how winners do it too. Instead, he said that “winners quit all the time” and pointed to the things successful people are willing to leave behind. According to Warikoo, one of the most obvious examples is a toxic job. Staying in an unhealthy work environment simply because quitting feels like giving up can prevent someone from moving towards a better opportunity.

His point extends beyond careers. He also believes that winners are willing to leave unhealthy relationships when those relationships no longer contribute positively to their lives.

Walking away from interactions that bring out the worst in you

Warikoo also highlighted another less obvious thing people may need to quit: interactions that force them to become “vicious”. Not every relationship or interaction needs to end, but repeatedly remaining in situations that bring out behaviour you do not want to embody can become emotionally draining. For Warikoo, recognising this pattern and stepping away can create room for healthier interactions.

Successful people can also quit

Perhaps the more unexpected part of Warikoo’s argument concerns memories and stereotypes. He suggested that people can sometimes hold on to memories simply because they are familiar, even when those memories no longer serve them well. Letting go does not mean erasing the past, but refusing to allow old experiences to dictate every present decision. The same applies to stereotypes. Warikoo said winners quit stereotypes when those beliefs “box their thinking”. Being willing to question assumptions can open the door to different ideas, experiences and possibilities.

When a situation is no longer taking you in the right direction

Warikoo also believes that persistence should have a purpose. Trying to persistently make a toxic relationship work is futile. If a situation is clearly no longer heading in the right direction, continuing simply because you have already invested time and effort into it may not always be the best choice. Knowing when to reassess and walk away can prevent people from spending even more time on something that is unlikely to work.

This thinking also applies to personal decisions. Warikoo said successful people can quit decisions that have not worked despite their best attempts. In other words, admitting that something did not work is not necessarily admitting defeat. It can be an opportunity to redirect effort towards a better option.

Letting go of biases

Another form of quitting Warikoo highlighted is abandoning biases that stop people from exploring different perspectives. People can become attached to opinions, assumptions and beliefs because they have held them for years. But if those biases prevent someone from considering a new point of view, Warikoo believes letting them go can be an important step forward. This kind of quitting requires a willingness to accept that being wrong is possible and that a different perspective may offer something valuable.

Quitting can create space

At the heart of Warikoo’s message is a simple idea: not everything deserves to be carried forward. He argued that only after quitting something that no longer serves you can you direct your attention towards something that does. That could mean leaving a toxic workplace, ending an unhealthy relationship, abandoning an unproductive decision or challenging a belief that has limited your thinking.

Netizens react

A user wrote, "'Winners never quit' is one of the most expensive pieces of advice we’ve normalised. Sometimes quitting isn’t giving up. It’s capital allocation. Stop putting time, energy and attention into what has stopped giving you a return." Another commented, "Growth is not just about what we keep. It's also about what we have the courage to leave behind. This post beautifully reframes quitting as a decision rooted in wisdom, not weakness. Every closed door creates space for a better one to open, but only if we're willing to let go of what no longer serves us. Sometimes the strongest move forward begins with one brave goodbye." One shared, "Sometimes growth isn’t about holding on harder; it’s about having the clarity to know what no longer deserves your energy. Quitting the wrong job, relationship, mindset or situation isn’t always giving up it can be choosing yourself and making room for something healthier. Knowing when to stay takes strength. Knowing when to walk away takes wisdom...."