Unshakable Confidence: Helping High-Achieving Women Lead with Calm, Clarity, and Confidence—at Work and in Life

11: To Quit or Not to Quit: How I Learned to Stop People-Pleasing and Start Trusting Myself

Coco Duan, Fortune 500 Senior Leader Turned Life & Leadership Coach Episode 11

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0:00 | 16:44

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"Have you ever been told not to be a quitter? That mentality kept me stuck in things that no longer served me for way too long. It used to be so hard for me to let go, to the point where I stayed in a soul-sucking corporate career for 20 years, a dysfunctional marriage for 12, and even kept going to a dentist I didn’t like for two years. Why was it so hard to walk away? I finally realized it was because I was more worried about what others would think than about how I truly felt.

In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing my most recent experience with quitting – and why it felt so liberating. I joined a networking group that seemed perfect on the surface, but soon realized it wasn’t right for me. This time, I didn’t hold on out of fear of being labeled a 'quitter.' Instead, I checked in with how I felt and what truly mattered to me, and I made the decision to walk away.

Key Takeaways for you:

1. Connect with Yourself First – Take a moment to tune into how you truly feel about your situation physically, emotionally, and mentally.

2. Clarify What Truly Matters to You – Understand your values and priorities; they’ll guide you in deciding what’s worth your time and energy.

3. Let Go of 'What Will They Think?' – Shift the focus from external opinions to what truly aligns with your goals and inner peace.

4. Trust Your Decision – If a choice brings you relief and clarity, it’s a sign you’re on the right path.

5. This is a Practice - This process of reprogramming and building your Grounded Confidence takes practice and repetition.

6. Be Kind to Yourself - when things get hard, but don't give up. 

This episode is for you if you're on the fence about something. Listen in, and let’s explore what it truly means to quit with confidence."


  • Coco Duan helps high-achieving women executives who secretly doubt themselves to build calm confidence and create success that feels truly fulfilling.
  • I'd love to invite you to take the next step toward building your calm confidence. Book your FREE one-hour consultation call here: https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation
  • Or email me at Coco@CocoDuanCoaching.com with the subject line: “Consultation.”
  • Let’s discover what’s possible for you. 💫