14 - Dismount the Dead Horse
50 Years, 50 Lessons
Lesson 14: Dismount The Dead Horse
It’s an old Dakota saying: “When you find that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.”
In business, I call this “analyzing your sunk costs.” Using the same analogy: “But I bought the horse already. I rode it this far. It’s got the best saddle. Maybe I can just kick it a bit harder.”
Ludicrous, yes, because in business, and in life, it is not always obvious when the “horse” dies.
A project and its potential might die long before you notice. A business venture or attempt to diversify might close before you give up. A partnership or relationship might lose purpose before you find an alternative.
I can recall a few moments of these when I owned my OT business. I tried to build a software program in 2008 to link with HCAI. Two years later, with no deliverables, I killed the project. I tried to diversify into a new area of OT, a year later, and with no referrals, I moved on. I kept people who were not a fit for the business longer than I should have.
Here are some signs that the horse might be dead:
It is a slog to deal with that thing.
You procrastinate, delay, and avoid moving it forward.
It drains your energy and ruins your day.
You set a budget and you are at the limit. Extending the budget stretches you too thin.
You set a timeframe and the date has arrived. Extending the date means you need to delay other things.
You feel like a failure but admitting that is too painful – so you keep trying to ride the horse.
Other people tell you the horse looks dead, smells dead, and is likely dead.
Your turn:
Reflect on a dead horse you rode too long.
To All: Thank you for being on this journey with me – past, present, and future.
Julie
