Frustrated & Uncertain. Should I Quit or Persevere?

[ConstantineKA]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

I'm 34 and I'm an international trade agent/broker/intermediary/consultant. Been doing this business for over 2 years with my current partner. My partner and I are tight, bring skills which complement each other, and we're both committed to making our business successful and growing it further. Even though we haven't made any money in that time we have worked hard, and almost closed several multi figure deals. But after two years of constant trial & error & inevitable failure I feel like we are back to square one. Currently things have been dead or close to it for the last two months. I don't know if we simply haven't found the right people to do business with or whether we're just too small time for this game. I'm starting to feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. When I first started, I thought we would have closed 1 deal and made some money by now. But still nothing. I feel stuck. Part of me feels like we're just spinning our wheels in the mud going nowhere, and that I should quit. The other part of me feels like we just need to hang around on a little longer, as I am aware that businesses can take 1-3 or 3-5 years or more to become successful and self-sufficient.

I'm not sure whether I want encouragement or discouragement. I just feel lost & stuck, and that life is passing me by with no progress in life whatsoever, and that there never will be. I feel doomed to be eternally stuck where I am. Don't if its just me or the times. I feel like I should have been something by now. Not sure what to do. Guess I just want to know if other people are going through the same thing, & if they did what they did, or what circumstances changed for them to succeed in their business? Or if not, when did they decide to quit?

 

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[Providence]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

I'm 34 and I'm an international trade agent/broker/intermediary/consultant. Been doing this business for over 2 years with my current partner. My partner and I are tight, bring skills which complement each other, and we're both committed to making our business successful and growing it further. Even though we haven't made any money in that time we have worked hard, and almost closed several multi figure deals. But after two years of constant trial & error & inevitable failure I feel like we are back to square one. Currently things have been dead or close to it for the last two months. I don't know if we simply haven't found the right people to do business with or whether we're just too small time for this game. I'm starting to feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. When I first started, I thought we would have closed 1 deal and made some money by now. But still nothing. I feel stuck. Part of me feels like we're just spinning our wheels in the mud going nowhere, and that I should quit. The other part of me feels like we just need to hang around on a little longer, as I am aware that businesses can take 1-3 or 3-5 years or more to become successful and self-sufficient.

I'm not sure whether I want encouragement or discouragement. I just feel lost & stuck, and that life is passing me by with no progress in life whatsoever, and that there never will be. I feel doomed to be eternally stuck where I am. Don't if its just me or the times. I feel like I should have been something by now. Not sure what to do. Guess I just want to know if other people are going through the same thing, & if they did what they did, or what circumstances changed for them to succeed in their business? Or if not, when did they decide to quit?

It's kinda a late reply...lol

But, it's always darkest before dawn.

 

[Mr. Tycoon]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

I'm 34 and I'm an international trade agent/broker/intermediary/consultant. Been doing this business for over 2 years with my current partner. My partner and I are tight, bring skills which complement each other, and we're both committed to making our business successful and growing it further. Even though we haven't made any money in that time we have worked hard, and almost closed several multi figure deals. But after two years of constant trial & error & inevitable failure I feel like we are back to square one. Currently things have been dead or close to it for the last two months. I don't know if we simply haven't found the right people to do business with or whether we're just too small time for this game. I'm starting to feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. When I first started, I thought we would have closed 1 deal and made some money by now. But still nothing. I feel stuck. Part of me feels like we're just spinning our wheels in the mud going nowhere, and that I should quit. The other part of me feels like we just need to hang around on a little longer, as I am aware that businesses can take 1-3 or 3-5 years or more to become successful and self-sufficient.

I'm not sure whether I want encouragement or discouragement. I just feel lost & stuck, and that life is passing me by with no progress in life whatsoever, and that there never will be. I feel doomed to be eternally stuck where I am. Don't if its just me or the times. I feel like I should have been something by now. Not sure what to do. Guess I just want to know if other people are going through the same thing, & if they did what they did, or what circumstances changed for them to succeed in their business? Or if not, when did they decide to quit?

yes, that's a normal feeling... but, YOU NEVER QUIT

you can change the business but YOU NEVER QUIT!!

 

[Oso]

It depends on your definition of "quit."

"Quit" and go back to a job? Nah.
"Quit" this project and find something else? Probably.

The market is pretty quick to tell you if what you're offering is trash. Maybe it's the idea itself, maybe it's your offer. Maybe the international audience(s) simply don't like you and your partner. Either way, if you've tried every option you have, and you still haven't made a single dime in 2+ years, then yeah, I'd say you're probably safe to move on.

Cheers.

 

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