Travis Makes Money

Make Money by Knowing When to Quit


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In this episode, Travis is joined by his producer, Eric, to explore one of the most difficult questions in business, creative work, and personal finance: is it time to double down or to walk away? Using viral memes, classic motivational stories, and plenty of real-world examples, Travis breaks down the difference between grit and the sunk cost fallacy. If you’ve ever wrestled with whether to keep going or to cut your losses, this conversation gives you actionable strategies—and permission—to make your next decision with confidence.

On this episode we talk about:

  • The “three feet from gold” story and why it’s not always as motivational as it seems

  • Distinguishing persistence from stubbornness in business and creative pursuits

  • The sunk cost fallacy and how it can keep you on the wrong path for too long

  • Timing, luck, technology, and other factors that determine real success

  • The importance of intuition and asking honest questions when deciding to persist or pivot

  • Annie Duke’s book "Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away" and actionable frameworks for tough decisions

    Top 3 Takeaways

    1.  Legendary persistence stories are rare because so few people actually strike gold—sometimes quitting is the healthiest, wealthiest move.


    2.  Set clear metrics and timelines: if you’re not where you need to be by a set date, give yourself permission to step back and reassess.


    3.  Intuition is a powerful guide, but so is honest self-inquiry; journaling and brutal self-questioning can reveal when it’s time to change lanes.

    Notable Quotes

    • "Persistence is great advice—until it’s not. The sunk cost fallacy never made anybody wealthy."

    • "You have to be willing to pivot… sometimes persistence is just a fear of letting go and not knowing what comes next."

    • "Set up a metric in your mind… and then if you’re still banging your head against the wall at the end, you gotta be willing to pivot."

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      Travis Makes MoneyBy Travis Chappell

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