Comments on: When to quit

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:33:56 +0000

I’m leaving my startup. Too much time and effort for insufficient ROI, not enough pay to compensate for the substantial risk of being so close to the line.

For me I knew it was time when I was interviewing a prospective member of our team and I felt like telling him to stay away. When you can’t honestly recommend others to work in your company, it’s time to go.

By: Steve Sammartino

Steve Sammartino — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:57:48 +0000

Who ever you are – you made me laugh. Thanks Fake Ray!

By: Ray William Johnson III

Ray William Johnson III — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:24:59 +0000

You shouldn’t do a startup in the first place. It’s fake and gay.

By: sharel

sharel — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:43:45 +0000

Thanks for this great post,

i guess you can never know, you got to trust your intuition…i also wrote a blog post about quitting in startups which was inspired by Seth Godin, and others, I will love to hear what you think about it… http://sharelomer.blogspot.com/2010/06/kung-fu-of-quitting-like-attracts-like.html

Thanks,
Sharel

By: TC2

TC2 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:35:19 +0000

A very difficult question, and possibly only possible to answer with all information specific to the startup to be closely examined.

However, I would say that from my own experience, of failed startups and now one that I’ve stayed the course on, I would suggest the following:

It is time to quit when:
1. You’re no longer passionate about it ie. no burning desire to continue
2. You’re only staying in it for financial reasons

By: Josh Moore

Josh Moore — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:37:15 +0000

I think that the only time to quit is when the pain of going forward is more than the pain of going back or elsewhere.

We all do things based on pain and pleasure. If the pain is less (long term) going forward then we should continue. However if the pain is not worth it long term then it is time to change course.

By: Steve Sammartino

Steve Sammartino — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:13:31 +0000

Actually Blake, your comments are quit valid, I think your iterations improve the idea of when to quit.

thanks for the input.
Steve,.

By: Blake Jakopovic

Blake Jakopovic — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:03:56 +0000

I disagree with “It’s time to quit when, you’ve run out of money, time or desire.”, because of the volatility and high risk of startups, they often come very close to the line between not having money and having money. I have seen many people who have touched that line and have bounced back, after reviewing their plan and strategies.

I think that it can be shortened to “It’s time to quit when, you’ve run out of desire.”, because time is relative to priorities, which are relative to desire, and money is explained above.

By: Christine Dunaway

Christine Dunaway — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:57:39 +0000

Nice read!

Christine Dunaway (@fddlgrl via twitter)