Don’t Give Up: We Are All a Work in Progress

Hey, don’t give up. I know, it’s easier said than done. You might be thinking, “Everyone says don’t give up—but why not? How not to?” You’ve worked for years—on projects, relationships, health, children—and yet, it feels like nothing is changing. You’re tired. You want to quit.

But let me remind you—giving up is where most people lose everything. When we give up, we open doors to despair, depression, and hopelessness. There is a limit to how much we can take, but that doesn’t mean we stop trying.

We Are All Work in Progress

Have you ever heard of the term WIP—Work in Progress? In industries, many materials go through stages before turning into a beautiful final product. Think about leather—it’s processed, coated, and polished before becoming something valuable like a handbag or car seat.

The same applies to us. We are all being shaped, refined, and tested by life’s experiences. If we leave the process halfway, we’ll never reach our full potential.

Would you bake a cake and pull it out halfway? Of course not. It wouldn’t be edible. Or imagine being on a flight and saying midway, “I want to get off.” That’s impossible. You’d crash. Life works the same way—once you’ve started, you can’t stop halfway.

Keep Going Until the End

Each of us is a living factory of growth. Our character, patience, and strength are being manufactured every single day. When we give up, we stop that process. But when we persist, we evolve into something beautiful.

The people who achieve greatness are not extraordinary. They simply didn’t give up. They kept learning, improving, and polishing themselves until they became the “final product” the world admired.

Checkout: A glimpse of my book I Decided Not to Cry

Steve Jobs: The Power of Staying on Course

Have you ever thought Steve Jobs had an easy life? He didn’t. Born to an unwed mother, given up for adoption, and raised by non-college-educated parents—his journey was full of challenges.

He joined Reed College, but dropped out when he realized his parents couldn’t afford the fees. He started living with friends, selling Coke bottles for coins, and attending random classes like calligraphy. That class, which seemed useless at the time, became the foundation for Apple’s elegant design later.

Even after creating Apple, Jobs was fired from his own company. Most people would have quit. He didn’t. Instead, he started new ventures—NeXT and Pixar—which Apple later bought. He returned as CEO and revolutionized technology forever.

That’s the essence of not giving up—turning pain into purpose and rejection into reinvention.

The Spider and the King

Let’s go back to the 13th century. Robert the Bruce, the King of Scotland, lost six battles trying to free his country from England. Frustrated and hopeless, he hid in a cave, ready to end his life.

There, he saw a spider building a web. The spider failed six times, yet tried again the seventh. Watching that small creature, Robert found courage. He rebuilt his army, fought again, and won Scotland’s freedom.

One spider—and one more attempt—changed history.

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The Client Who Refused to Quit

A client of mine once failed 18 interviews. She cried, doubted herself, and wanted to quit. But I reminded her—you are work in progress. She prepared harder, improved her communication, and gave one more interview.

She got the job—with a salary of ₹2.5 lakh per month. That’s what persistence does—it transforms failure into fortune.

My Own Journey: From Housewife to Entrepreneur

People often ask how I survived a ₹60 crore debt, hundreds of court cases, and the pain of rebuilding life. The answer is simple—I refused to give up.

Each morning, I told myself, “Today again, I shall not be defeated.” I faced legal notices, business struggles, and sleepless nights. But I kept going.

Four years later, I was awarded “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2011. It wasn’t luck. It was perseverance, faith, and daily commitment to rise again.

Checkout: The Art of Self-Care Prioritizing Your Physical, Emotional, and Mental Well-being in 2025

You Are Still in the Making

Maybe you’re tired today. Maybe your efforts seem invisible. But remember—you are not done yet. You are still being molded by life, and your final product will be magnificent.

Every challenge adds a new layer to your strength. Every failure teaches you something. Every delay is preparing you for something better.

So, get up. Wipe your tears. Take a deep breath. Tell yourself—“Today again, I shall not be defeated.”

You are not losing—you are learning. You are not breaking—you are being built.