Not Working: When to Fix, When to Pivot, and When to Stop “It’s not working.”
These three words are among the most frustrating in the English language. They are the harbinger of broken machinery, failed relationships, stalling careers, and abandoned projects.
Whether it’s the Wi-Fi router flashing red, a marketing campaign producing zero leads, or a personal routine that no longer brings joy, the immediate reaction is often panic, followed by frustration, and finally, brute force—trying to make it work harder. But what if the best solution isn’t to fix it?
When something is “not working,” it represents a critical juncture. It is an opportunity to re-evaluate, redesign, or release. 1. Diagnose the Problem: Is it Broken or Obsolete?
Before rushing to fix something, you must determine why it is not working.
It’s Broken (Technical Issue): The mechanism is sound, but a component has failed. This requires repair.
Examples: A faulty line of code, a broken appliance, a misunderstood instruction.
It’s Obsolete (Strategic Issue): The mechanism works perfectly, but the context has changed. The strategy no longer fits the goal.
Examples: Using a newspaper marketing strategy in the era of social media, trying to fix a marriage by doing more of what caused the initial distance.
The Fix: If it’s broken, apply technical solutions (troubleshoot, re-skill, fix). If it’s obsolete, apply strategic solutions (pivot, abandon, redesign). 2. The Trap of “Sunk Cost”
We often keep doing things that don’t work because we have already invested time, money, or emotion into them. This is known as the Sunk Cost Fallacy.
If you are continuing a project, staying in a job, or holding onto a belief only because of what you’ve already put into it, it is not working—it is draining you.
Actionable Advice: Ask yourself: “If I were starting today, knowing what I know now, would I begin this?” If the answer is no, it is time to pivot or stop. 3. When to Pivot: Changing Direction
If the goal is valid but the method is failing, you need a pivot. A pivot is not quitting; it is changing strategy while keeping the vision.
The 3-Strike Rule: If you try a new approach three times and it still doesn’t work, change your strategy entirely.
Pivot to “What Works”: Look at what is working in your life or business. Take the successful elements and apply them to the failed area. 4. When to Stop: The Power of Quitting
We are taught that quitters never win. This is wrong. Winners quit all the time—they just quit the right things.
If an endeavor is damaging your mental health, depleting your finances, or offering no potential for future success, stopping is the most rational, productive action.
The “Clean Break” Approach: Don’t drag it out. A quick, decisive stop allows you to reallocate your energy to things that do work.
When things are “not working,” take a deep breath. Stop trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Diagnose: Is it broke or obsolete? Evaluate: Am I holding on just because of past investment? Act: Fix it, pivot, or stop.
Not working isn’t the end of the road; it’s simply a signpost telling you it’s time to take a different path. If you are dealing with a specific “not working” situation, Saved time Comprehensive Inappropriate Not working
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