This is just food for thought but how do you know when it's time to change direction - in business, church planting, ministry, or an idea you have been working on for some time?  How do you determine whether you should keep pushing or find another way around the wall?

This was part of my conversation with a great friend yesterday.

There are times where, for whatever reason, we just can't seem to get the results we had hoped for.  We work out consistently and eat the right foods but the pounds don't dramatically decrease.  We start a business that is better than the competition yet they get more recognition and clients from the target audience.  Or maybe we launch a church that is unlike anything in the community and needed but it just hasn't grown or reached new people.

We know that there are going to be times where it just takes patience and persistence because worthwhile goals don't come easy or come fast.  But what if after 6 months,  1 year or 5 years the fruit isn't quite there?  Is there a formula for knowing when it's time to readjust, start on a new path or give up completely?

My answer is I don't really know.  

It's different for each of us and I am in a situation right now where I am asking these questions.  I started a homeschool soccer group four years ago in the dream of building a couple teams to play competitively in a way that honors God.  We have had a super group of kids involved during this time and have a small group who has remained involved most of this time but I can't seem to get the type of involvement from parents and players to actually have one team in a specific age bracket.  Why is this so - especially when many people have expressed such a great interest in this sport?  Is it time to regroup and change direction or quit completely?  My decision is to make this the breakthrough year by changing up a few things and if we don't have the type of results we need by 2009, then it's time to move on.

A few things I believe that are helpful for making the right decision: