Know When to Push—and When to Let Go

Let’s go ahead and name this for what it is: not every battle is worth your energy.
Not every situation deserves a response.
Not every environment is worth trying to fix.

Tip #60 wouldn’t be complete without talking about one of the most important lessons I’ve learned—not just in my career, but in life: you have to know when to push, and when to walk away.

One of my favorite songs of all time is The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.” That line? It applies just as much in the workplace as it does at the poker table.

So many of us exhaust ourselves trying to turn things around in environments that are simply not aligned with who we are or where we’re trying to go. I’ve seen people push and push and push until they hit burnout—or worse, they drown in something that was never theirs to fix in the first place.

When things at work are frustrating, here’s the question I always ask myself: Of the limited amount of energy I have today, is this where I really want to spend it?
Most of the time, the answer is no.

There are going to be things worth speaking up for—things that matter deeply to you. And when those moments come, you want your voice to have weight. But if you’ve been the person who speaks up about everything, you risk being tuned out. That’s why discernment is key. You want to protect your voice so that when you use it, people stop and listen.

And sometimes, the answer isn’t in fighting harder—it’s in moving on.

I always tell my coaching clients: when you’re in an environment where nothing changes no matter how much you advocate, I want you to picture trying to turn the Titanic around. It’s heavy. It’s slow. And sometimes, it’s already headed in a direction you can’t control. You’ll wear yourself out trying to shift a system that doesn’t want to move.

And that’s not failure. That’s information.
That’s wisdom.
That’s your cue to let go.

Walking away doesn’t mean you didn’t try. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re choosing yourself. And your peace, your energy, and your future are worth protecting.

So if you’ve been pouring into a workplace that’s no longer pouring into you… it might be time to ask yourself: Am I playing to win? Or am I just trying to survive?

There’s a difference.