We have the important problems, and we shifted through our ideas. We buckled up and got to work. But what if things change? What if we were wrong?
How do we decide when we should quit and when we better grind it out?
Working on the wrong project is the biggest mistake you must avoid, alongside quitting before the finish line. It is a debate of efficiency versus efficacy. Sunk-cost fallacy versus lack of self-discipline. Quit by Annie Duke versus Grit by Angela Duckworth. Hustle culture versus quiet quitting.
As almost always, the answer is that there is no universal answer: It is not either-or, but both-and. As Kevin Kelly quips
Three things you need:
the ability to not give up something till it works,
the ability to give up something that does not work, and
the trust in other people to help you distinguish between the two.
Instead of a definitive answer, a list of helpful questions follows—as often, that's where the real insight is.
Are you learning to fail or failing to learn?
Failure is at the sidelines of every beginning. A lot of failure—and luckily, from the more graceful, low-stakes type. This is when your boss delegates decisions to you—inconsequential ones to keep it safe to fail. It is not failure for failure's sake but for learning.
What drives you?
The underlying desire should be a healthy one. Even a soul-draining job becomes meaningful if it finances your children's education or a loved one's healthcare.
Is it an important problem?
You should not work on something that is not important.
How do you tell what are the important questions in your field?
By developing what thinkers call your style or taste. Working with a true master of your craft, you can learn this skill. This puts you in a better position in the long term, even if it requires you to temporarily work on lesser problems.
Do you care?
The most important problem in a field can be a burden if you don't care. Find your niche.
Does it feel like play?
To sustain peak performance, work on something interesting, something that feels like play. You can grind out boring projects at times, but if that's your bread and butter, the question is when (and not whether) you will burn out.
Where does your mind go when it wanders?
Is it the same as what you are working on? If not,
What would have to change for you to actually follow the wandering and make it real?—Seth Godin
Is it of bad quality?
Don't confuse the inherent qualities of a project with your attitude towards it. Ask yourself whether you are doing a good job. It might turn out that you are the cause of your own trouble.
Does it make someone angry?
Before you throw in the towel, ask whether quitting makes someone you (need to) care about angry. Closing doors behind you might be too costly.