3by9

Can you admit it’s over?

Admitting something is over is hard.

• You write a shitty blog that you feel deserves attention, yet you can’t face the fact that it…sucks.
• You are in a shitty relationship and one of the participants isn’t happy. You or the other person want to continue and even after it is “over” one person doesn’t see it that way.
• Your business doesn’t make any money, you are competing against companies where you stand no chance of survival and yet you keep on pouring more and more into it.

Why do we have a problem admitting when we have hit the end of the line? Ego? The amount of time invested? How often have you had a problem letting go only to find that after you do so the world opens up just a bit more? How many more questions can I ask you in one paragraph?

I used to have a problem admitting something was over. Then I became aware that I can’t move on to the next thing until I let go of the past. Some people like to grab a hold of one vine before letting go of the previous one, but in doing so you can never grasp your next idea with both arms. I’ve been through more websites in the past 5 years on the web than people will go through their whole lives and I have done so because I realize when I am not having fun or the enjoyment leaves it is over.

That is an easier position to be in than failing at something and having to let it go. I have been in that boat as well and those are a lot harder to escape. Unlike relationships though in business you have a chance to redeem yourself. You can’t change a relationship once it is over, but you can start to mold your business into something else that gives it another shot.

Technorati has had a million chances it seems to redefine what they do and yet nothing ever changes except the design of the frontpage. They can’t let go of the fact that people aren’t concerned with using them for blog search anymore because they failed them so many times. However, they can still redeem themselves by refreshing what they do, but first they have to admit it’s over.

Yahoo! made a wonderful move last year when they conceded the search game to Google. Some people considered it a failure, but to me it was them simply admitting that they couldn’t win with their current strategy. Does not mean one day they won’t return to search with a whole new way to go about it, just right now they can admit they are wasting their efforts beating a dead horse.

If you are fresh out of ideas and just can’t seem to change or make headway and know that you have done everything possible to right the ship, then you know it is over. Time to call it quits. Put up the white flag. Toss in the towel. The only question remaining is are you prepared to do so?

This entry goes along well with today’s Quofda and you have to realize that just because you admit it is over doesn’t mean you are calling it quits. You live to fight another day and that is all that matters. Just don’t give up too fast when there are still opportunities for success hanging around.