Why You Should Never Give Up - in celebration of the 50th episode

Hi, this is a special episode of The Rabbi Who Got Rich On Sunday podcast, appropriately entitled, “Why You Should Never Give Up?” I am Rabbi Dave, and this special episode commemorates our 50th podcast episode uploaded to major podcast platforms!

The next episode will return to the How To Master Mentoring mini-series, but this being the 50th, we felt that it was an awesome opportunity to discuss “Why You Should Never Give Up.”

An unforgettable 50 Story

This 50th podcast episode reminds me of a story:

My brother-in-law Jon loves to have fun, and one of his favorite activities is playing unique practical jokes.  On my 50th birthday, I ran a conference in which I was the President. It was an umbrella organization that helped nonprofits called AJOP. My Rabbi (Rabbi Lowenbraun) was the Director so there was no way I was going to let him down just because it was my 50th birthday.  When I checked into the hotel, there was a package waiting for me at the front desk.  I figured it was items I needed for the conference that my staff had sent me.  I proceeded to open the package as the hotel staff watched curiously.  The first item I took out of the box was adult diapers. This was followed by special vitamins for older people, denture items, a mug saying how many dog years were in 50 human years, another saying how many days were in 50 human years, and more.  I was in shock until I looked up to see the entire hotel staff rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter and then I cracked up as well.  Thank you Jon for an unforgettable 50 memory.

The #1 Reason Why You Should Never Give Up

This podcast episode was not created with a focus of either recommending or deterring people from starting a podcast but just to showcase how easily many would-be entrepreneurs give up something they’ve started; only 32% of podcasts make it to the 11th episode.

If you further filter the percentage of podcasts that have completed more than ten episodes and have produced an episode within the last 90 days, we discover with more than a little surprise that only 4% fit in that category.

Again, this 50th episode is entitled “Why You Should Never Give Up” and not specifically about podcast stats, but another stat about podcasts stands out. A whopping 44% of podcasts created fewer than three episodes!

Talking about never giving up and continuing for a moment to look at podcasts as a model example of how few stick with it, only 13.4% of podcast shows are active. So, if you are podcasting as your primary side hustle or, like me, your podcast aids in promoting your side hustle, you would be within the definition of an active podcast just by podcasting once per month!

In 2023 Podcast News reported that more than 5 million podcasts aren’t being updated any longer. So, yes, there are a lot of podcasts, but over time, few continue to be competitors.

Think about how many types of businesses there are—especially side hustles—that have similar stats to podcasts. In other words, how many of your would-be competitors in all businesses will give up and leave the opportunities to you if you continue? That is a big reason why you should never give up!

Business Failure Examples and Reasons

When we look at “business failure examples,” it is mind-boggling how many businesses fail due to the owner or entrepreneur quitting or giving up. For instance, in one of my side hustles or home businesses, only 1 in 9 affiliates refer a total of 8 customers over the lifetime of their business, and referring 20 qualifies you to be a top earner (most earning over $100,000 refer around 100)!

Even more interesting is the fact that less than 50% of affiliates refer more than two customers before they quit their chosen side hustle!

The question is; Is there really that much difference between the people who refer 7 or less and those who refer 8 or more? The answer is surprising. Those that referred 8 or more were not necessarily more intelligent or talented!   

When we look at business failure examples in side hustle businesses, it is not usually running out of money that causes failure but quitting as home businesses simply do not cost much to run. After all, there is no rent to pay and little or no stock to buy, and the home business comes with many tax advantages that can be applied to any income, meaning even income from a job before your side hustle makes a single dollar.

So, since money is not the primary reason for home business failure, yet most people give up, you can see that you win just by continuing. It was these thoughts that inspired me to make this episode about why you should never give up.

The top reason that I would list in this section of business failure examples and why people give up is a lack of skills. Many people start, see the potential of their affiliate business or network marketing opportunity, and think they can achieve that potential or success yet remain unskilled. Would an unskilled carpenter succeed in the construction and renovation business? Of course not. Why, then, do people feel they can grow in a home-based business while unskilled?

How vital are skills when we do not want to become a statistic in the business failure examples column? Look at what the late, great Jim Rohn said:

“In the beginning, you might have to work harder on yourself than you do your business.”

The other primary reason for many “business failure examples” is lack of planning. If you are beginning and need to work harder on yourself than your business to gain needed skills, and you need to apply those skills to become both proficient with them and ensure you don’t forget them, you best plan to do both. This means you need to schedule some of the time you have allotted for your side hustle to learn skills and some of it to use or apply those new skills.

The famous saying is, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”  So make your plan and keep it in front of you as a document, picture, or anything you can see on a regular basis so you don’t forget.

Remember, with skills, if you do not try out or apply the skills you just learned, and continually sharpen the saw, you will forget them and that means you will have to relearn them, which is a total waste of time.

The last reason for business failure in side hustles that we will list in this podcast is mindset, which some refer to as attitude. It is possible to fail to make the income you deserve from your side hustle if you are self-sabotaging, like believing you will not have the time to learn the skills and use them. Or thinking that you are too busy to make much money when, in fact, others in nearly identical situations, with the same challenges as you, do succeed.

The title of this podcast has many reasons but one reason we called it “The Rabbi Who Got Rich On Sunday,” is that I work on my nonprofit work full time and put only very part-time into my podcast and separate side hustle but because I never give up, I am accomplishing several things. First, I am learning and using new skills, I make careful plans and keep them in front of me, and I have the mindset that we are created in the image of The Almighty and can accomplish almost anything we try to. To reinforce that thought, I’ve made more from my side hustle than many of those who did it full-time.

I will end this section about business failures with another quote by Jim Rohn that deals with mindset. It goes, “Do not tell yourself that it is too hard!”

International Never Give Up Day

August 18, 2024, was International Never Give Up Day. The Awareness Days website has a terrific explanation of what Never Give Up Day is about:

On August 18th, we celebrate Never Give Up Day, a beacon of resilience and unwavering determination for all those who dare to dream. In a world where skeptics cast doubt and naysayers question our resolve, this day stands as a testament to the power of perseverance. To all warriors in the battle of life, dreams, and a brighter future, Never Give Up Day salutes their resilience, their victories, and their unwavering spirit. Additionally, it’s an ideal occasion to reward and appreciate these resilient individuals with gifts or special treats, recognizing their persistence.

This podcaster has no experience with Never Give Up Day but there is a report by Global News, a well-known Canadian TV station’s news show reporting on it, which leads me to believe it is worth checking out.

My Own Story about Persevering & Never Giving Up

So why do I podcast? I originally wanted to write a book.  Actually several!  

My family, friends, colleagues, and students had asked me to write books about topics such as An Introduction to Jewish Prayer, My Experiences Working With The Jewish Community, Time Management, How to Create a Repeat Income, Stories of those I’ve Mentored, My personal story, and more. 

After researching how to write a book, I discovered that by podcasting, I could break the process down into weekly sections and make it much easier.  I decided to start with my advice on creating and running a side business or hustle with the unique perspective of a Rabbi.  I wrote the outline and first few episodes with a professional writer I found but never did anything with them.  Then a new colleague and mentor, Smiling Steve Burke came into my life.  As we worked together and became friends I shared this dream of mine and rather quickly his amazing marketing mind came up with the title – The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday.  I was excited to get started with the podcast; but, as always happens life got in the way and I did not.  I’d like to say that I never gave up and that is why the podcast is here.  Although true, and I have many other examples of businesses, projects, personal dreams, etc. that only reached fruition because I did not give up for many years, this podcast only happened because Steve did not give up on me and kept pushing with his unique humor until I actually started recording!  Thank you, Steve!

On my 40th birthday, I received an email that I wrote for myself when I was 30 with all of my big life goals that I wanted to accomplish by the time I was 40.  I was devastated when the email arrived on my birthday and I had not accomplished most of the items I listed, such as getting in shape (with a specific weight goal), making a certain amount of money based on a repeat income stream, being debt-free, having my dream retirement home, living in Israel, and several family-oriented goals.  The only goals I had accomplished were the family goals but by the time I was 50, I had accomplished every single other goal because I did not give up and kept the goals in front of me until I accomplished them!

As my recorded intro to each episode of “The Rabbi Who Got Rich On Sunday” says “I chose to live my dreams rather than giving up on my dreams to face reality.” I hope this podcast helps you understand “Why You Should Never Give Up” and that I can help you in some small way to achieve your dreams as well!

Quotes on Why You Should Never Give Up

We researched some excellent “Why should you never give up” quotes that you might gain inspiration from:

Rabbi Tarfon said: “It is not up to you to finish the work, but neither are you free to give up on it. It is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it. – Pirkei Avot 2:16

Henry Ford said: “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

Mahatma Gandhi said: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

Vince Lombardi said: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

Theodore Roosevelt said: “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.”

Confuscious said: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” 

Conrad Hilton said: “Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

King Solomon said: “A righteous man falls down seven times and gets up.” – Proverbs, 24:16.

Business Benefits of a Consistent Podcast

Consistency is more than just a nice thing to have, though—it’s also good for business. Producing regular episodes does something powerful: it establishes credibility. When you keep showing up, your audience starts to see you as an authority, someone they can trust. And in a world where trust is the currency, that’s huge.

Plus, having a backlog of content means you’re creating a digital library that keeps working for you. Episodes become evergreen assets—people might find an episode you released months ago and still get value from it. That visibility opens doors to new partnerships and sponsorships. It’s like building a foundation brick by brick, where every episode is another brick that makes you and what you bring to the marketplace more valuable.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

“But what have I learned on a personal level? First, I had to get comfortable with imperfection. There’s no perfect episode, no flawless interview. I had to let go of over-editing and start focusing on authenticity. That shift allowed me to be more present and actually enjoy the process.

Second, I learned the power of community. Some of the best moments came from you—listeners who shared stories of how an episode impacted them or even challenged my thinking. That feedback is gold. It shaped the show and kept me grounded. So, if you’ve ever reached out, commented, or even just silently supported—thank you.”

Gratitude and Acknowledgment

“And speaking of gratitude, I want to take a moment to acknowledge a few people, namely, you, the listeners. Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or have been here since Episode 1, thank you for choosing to spend your time with me. I appreciate every comment, review, and download.

Conclusions

As we wrap up this milestone episode, I want to leave you with one thought: the journey is the reward. It’s not just about hitting 50 episodes or 100 or more—it’s about what you learn, how you grow, and the connections you make along the way. If you’re thinking of starting a project, whether it’s a podcast, a blog, or anything else, don’t get caught up in how long it’ll take or whether it’ll be perfect. Just start. Show up consistently, even when it’s hard, and watch what happens.

Thank you for being here, and here’s to the next 50 episodes!

Podcast Challenge; Why You Should Never Giving Up

What is your story about giving up? Maybe you did give up at some point and found inspiration to start again.

I would love it if you would share your story. 

In the show notes, you will find a link to the dedicated web page on my site for this podcast episode. Near the bottom of that web page is a place where you can leave a comment. Please use that feature to share a story that applies to your life, even if it is only that this podcast episode inspired you.

The best examples will be included in a post on the site, and they will help others, so please consider taking a moment or two to do this. 

What could you share? Well, how do you see success differently because you never give up? What skills will you commit to learning so you will have the type of success that means you do not have to give up on your side hustle, and more importantly, your dreams?

If you have a side hustle, how much time will you dedicate to applying those new skills you are learning? 

Thank you for listening. The next episode will return to the “How to Master Mentoring” mini-series.