[bluethunder]

Firstly understand that the most precious thing that you are losing here is time - or rather time not spent on building a break-out business. Every day that you spent on the dead end business is time not spent on building a break-out business.

This is what I would suggest:

1. Try selling your startup. Put a time frame on it - say 2 months at the max. Research and Pitch potential buyers. Don't be too rigid on the price. Again, you need to sell so that the business (and its employees) can stretch for as much as possible, and you need to sell to save your time.

2. If the sale doesnt happen in two months, disassociate from the business. For all practical purposes assume that the business is dead. Detach and Break Free. Do not let the dead-end business take your mindspace. Plan the business contingency - you might let your employees keep running the business so that it helps pay their salaries - or you might make it clear to your employees that the business is dead end and they should jump ship. Offer them salaries till the business pays the bills and help them in whatever way they want. Whatever you do, do not engage in the business.

3. Use the now free mind space to figure out the next break out business. Do not try to adapt your existing business. Do not try to 'do something' with your business competencies. Do not 'pivot' your existing business/employees/software.

[Personne]

I never thought about dissociating from the business but I see the reasoning behind it. The 'free mind space' versus sad burnout is really a good image.

Thanks,