Giving Up or Pushing Through?

How often do you ask yourself this question: “Should I give up on this project”? . If I give up, what will I be missing? Will I be quitting too early…before my reward comes? Or should I keep pushing through. How do you weigh the risk and reward?

If you’re looking for the answer, read no more. Literally…I don’t have the answer, so if that’s what you need, stop reading now.

However, if you’re looking for ways to weigh the pros and cons, read on.

Are You Giving Up or Pushing Through?

In the book, The Dip, by Seth Godin, he states: “what really sets superstars apart form everyone else is the ability to escape dead ends quickly while staying focused and motivated when it really counts.”

I suggest asking yourself the following questions (and listening hard to your own answers):

1. What does my gut say?

You’ve had it before…you know, that tugging at your gut that tells you something just isn’t quite right? You couldn’t put your finger on the reason exactly, but you knew, in your gut, that something wasn’t right. And later you (most likely)     regretted not following your own hunches. If something doesn’t feel right, there’s a good chance it isn’t right. Gut instincts can later be evaluated by hard data. Make sure you have a way to track the “instinct” decision, so you can make more informed data decisions later.

2. Are you giving up because you’ve exhausted all options, or did you get sidetracked?

The shiny penny syndrome is alive and well. I once called myself a serial   entrepreneur, because there was always the promise of something better around the corner. (I realized later that was NOT a good thing). I got bored, or gave up too easily. OR, I was easily persuaded by others, and I DIDN’T listen to my gut. I’ve realized later that I didn’t exhaust all of the options, because I didn’t have clear goals and expectations (yes, the Cobbler’s children have no shoes)

3. If I go forward and I fail, can I live with the results?

If the answer is yes, then I forge ahead. If the risk outweighs the reward, sometimes it is best to throw in the towel. You may have to weigh your financial investments, emotional investments and time investments. Is the decision “permanent” or can you change you mind without any emotional/financial repercussions?

4. WHY am I doing this?

Are you looking at your new venture as a money-making business, or something that just makes your heart sing? If it’s the former, then you’ll have a completely different set of guidelines to follow. On the other hand, if you won’t be “complete” until you launch, then, if you’re like me, you’ll proceed at almost any cost.

When in doubt, remember the tried and true:

• List the pros and cons
• Sleep on it

Sometimes we have to trust our gut. Pay attention to your inner voice. Mistakes…learn from them. We all make them. Learn to forgive…yourself.