Knowing When To Let Go

Yahoo co-founder Eric Yang recently resigned as a member of the board stating, "The time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo." With this statement, Yang signaled the dramatic end to the 17 years since he helped found the company. In that time, he watched Yahoo's market share and stock price grow substantially, only to collapse in the wakes of Google's and Bing's success.  The latter must be the most painful considering Yahoo spurned Microsoft's $47.5 acquisition offer back in 2008, a figure representing almost three times its current stock value. At the time, Yahoo's decision was largely attributed to Yang's unwillingness to let go of his dreams and his influence over the board.

Like a kid hanging on one rung of the monkey bars, unable to move forward and yet afraid to drop, some entrepreneurs hang on too long before finally falling to the ground. Failure to recognize when to get out of the way not only postpones the inevitable, but also holds everyone else back. Better to drop, dust off, and then either climb back up on with the others or find another challenge.

It is important to have dreams and to pursue them. However, one must objectively examine and handle any limitations in that pursuit.

After all, it's still your dream that's being fulfilled. Better to be a spectator than a pall bearer.
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