Success often needs determination, but when does tenacity slip over into obsession?

One of the toughest day-to-day decisions most people have to make is knowing when to let go and walk away. Few of us like to give up on something we’ve put time and energy into; the more of both we’ve committed — plus our credibility and sometimes our cash — the less happy we feel at the idea that even winning may not be worth the cost.

That’s the question posed by this article from The Age, an Australian newspaper, in one of its associated blogs (“Should I stay or should I go?”):

While I agree that entrepreneurs need to have a focus on their goals — often bordering on obsession — sometimes, you can be wasting time and energy on a project that isn’t worth the effort. Your focus could be better spent on something that’s going to reap you greater rewards. So how do you determine if your energies are better directed elsewhere?

The author suggests that you answer three questions to find the right path:

• Is price your point of differentiation? (Clearly, this only applies to decisions about launching a new product or business.)
• Is it impacting your family, health or sanity? (That’s key for all personal and professional career choices, as well as purely business ones, especially for anyone prone to bouts of being a workaholic.)
• Look into the future — will your product/service be superseded? (You can apply this to personal issues by substituting the question: “Will any skills and experience gained be superseded in the foreseeable future. Becoming an expert in a dying specialism may not be a sound use of time or energy.)

Difficult questions, but well worth thinking about if they can save you from banging your head against some obstacle until you drive out your remaining wits.

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