When To Call It Quits In Your Business

1. Dread Head

When To Call It Quits: If you dread doing the work every morning, it's time to let go and find something else. You're draining more energy than usual.

Thanks To: Meryl Evans of meryl.net

2. The Chase Becomes A Dull Ache

When To Call It Quits: We've all been there -- the next perfect "idea." But when the fun of the chase turns into a dull ache of pain and frustration....it might well be the time to call it quits and move on. Just like with relationships, there's lots of fish out there in the water! Go catch yourself a new one.

Thanks To: Bobbie Abdallah of Your Virtual Partner

3. Guided By Passion

When To Call It Quits: As a serial entrepreneur and a lover of the “new,” I can tell you that when the fire and passion for what I’m doing begins to die, I know it’s time for a change. Because money and success (in the traditional sense), have never been motivators for me, I have no trouble leaving an enterprise with which I’ve become bored, where I feel trapped or where the only reason to continue is because I’m doing well financially. As a result, I’ve birthed a variety of businesses, loved them, then left with no regrets.

Thanks To: Lynn Colwell of The Green Year, LLC

4. Trust Your Heart

When To Call It Quits: When your short-term goals are in line with your long-term goals, keep pressing on. Look for alternatives if you meet an impasse. Ask others who are already successful what they'd advise. Allow your mission statement to "tell you" what to do...sometimes letting go what we think we really want/need/must have gives way to something better.

Thanks To: Nancy Irwin of Dr. Nancy B. Irwin

5. Stop When You Need To Ask

When To Call It Quits: The first time entrepreneurs ask the question "when do I quit" it is time to close the doors. An entrepreneurs biggest asset is passion and drive. When the business, or the economic environment, or enough tough customers beat you up and you begin to feel defeated it is time to move on. Take a deep breath, clean up the mess and when the passion returns do something bigger and better with one more notch in your belt.

Thanks To: Marc Compeau of Clarkson University School of Business

6. When Dirt Hits Your Head, Stop Digging

When To Call It Quits: Sometimes, in an effort to prove ourselves right and/or validate our previous efforts, we continue digging long after it is clear we should stop and move on to a new hole. Pause and ask yourself the following: why am I pursuing this, does it make sense to continue or am I doing it for emotional or illogical reasons (anger, frustration, revenge, etc.), what else could I do, what if I am wrong, what are my options... Take the time to trigger your brain to ponder possibilities. You'll often be amazed at your own brilliance!

Thanks To: Holly Green of The Human Factor, Inc.

7. Go With the Flow

When To Call It Quits: That old adage, "Go with the flow" is true. If the energy is there to support you in your endeavor, then people, resources, and time will all flow in to help you. If the energy is "stuck," redirect your efforts and do something else. Never waste your valuable time trying to move a mountain all alone. If the time is right, the mountain will come to you!

Thanks To: Terry Kohl of Incredible Things Marketing

8. When to Make the Ultimate Decision

When To Call It Quits: I know when to end it or when to push forward by trusting my gut. Usually, I get a feeling for how the client responds. If it is favorable, I will go on. If it isn't, I will end it.

Thanks To: Harry Husted of Creating Words

9. When Perseverance Becomes Perseveration

When To Call It Quits: "To persevere" is to pursue a seemingly achievable goal. "To perseverate" is to foolishly continue a pursuit when all indicators tell you it's no longer achievable.

It's time to abandon your goals when the odds are no longer in your favor. To help yourself pinpoint that time, set limits--e.g., "If I have not made it in the movies by the time I'm 42, then I'll look for a normal job at which I can earn a living."

Thanks To: Marlene Caroselli of CPD

10. Ask 5 People You Don't Know

When To Call It Quits: If you can't pitch your business to a complete stranger, your business is totally screwed. If you can pitch your business, the reactions you get from 5 people you've never met will tell you a lot about how solid your potential moneymaker might be.

Thanks To: Ryan Paugh of Brazen Careerist

11. Quitting Only If

When To Call It Quits: Quitting is normally not an option however if you have exhausted every opportunity & can honestly say you have given 120% it might be time to leverage the knowledge & experience you gained toward something more lucrative. Quit only if you have given it 120% first.

Thanks To: Ungenita Prevost of Ungenita Beauty

12. Check Your Intent

When To Call It Quits: To stop or not is all about intent. If your intent still resonates as a “must do” then check on HOW you are doing it. If what you are doing isn’t getting the results you want, assess whether it is time to persist, tweak or ditch the approach. Whatever you decide measure the action for its fit with your intention.

Thanks To: Terrill Welch of Terrill Welch - A Woman Behind Women

13. No Need To Force It

When To Call It Quits: Ask yourself the following questions:

Is it easy?
Is it fun?
Am I getting the desired results?

If you can say yes to all three, you're doing the right thing. If not, it's time for a change.

Thanks To: Chris Dorris of Dorris Performance Psychology

14. Think ROI

When To Call It Quits: We start new projects from a passionate stance. We go warp speed with enthusiasm. Think through the return on investment, whether time or money, in knowing when it is time to call it quits. Big return is important for investing our time and money. You define what the big return is for you - more clients, more flexibility, more accolades.

Thanks To: Ellen Delap of Professional-Organizer.com

15. Twenty Years From Now

When To Call It Quits: Everyday I read a quote that I have framed on my wall which helped me make the entrepreneurial leap with my company and continues to push me ahead daily:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the things that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover”
~Mark Twain

Thanks To: Rod Call of Snoloha

16. Always Remember Who You Answer To

When To Call It Quits: I think it’s a myth that great companies have a founder that never quits. What that means is you don’t quit when you’re faced with challenges but you do have to think ethically when you have employees or investors who are taking your word. Sometimes it makes sense to tell people that the ship isn’t going to sail, so people can find jobs and investors can get some of their money back. And you probably don’t want to put your family into bankruptcy for your company either.

Thanks To: Avi Karnani of Thrive

17. Comfortable is for Shoes & Beds

When To Call It Quits: If you're not feeling some anxiety, you're probably not challenging yourself enough. Comfortable is fine for shoes and beds, but when you're an entrepreneur, there's discomfort - of the cognitive kind - involved. I know if I'm somewhat anxious and there's some fear of failure, then I'm on the right track. If I have daily migraines and am freaking out, then I better pull back.

Thanks To: Meggin McIntosh of Emphasis on Excellence, Inc.