Completed vs Done vs Dropped

If you have made a mistake cut your losses as quickly as possible. ~ Bernard Baruch

I may as well cut my losses and make a hasty exit while I still had enough self-esteem to walk upright. Crawling was so demoralizing. ~ Darynda Jones

When it comes to finishing things, there are a few key terms to understand. "Completed" means you achieved everything you set out to do on a task. "Done" is simpler - you finished the task, but maybe not exactly how you originally planned. And "dropped" means you stopped working on the task altogether.

Knowing when to give up is also important. Honestly evaluate if a task aligns with your long-term goals or if it's become a burden. Don't be afraid to walk away from something that's not working just because you've already invested time or resources in it (that's called the sunk cost fallacy). Learn from the experience and use that knowledge for future decisions. Cutting your losses frees you up to focus on things with a higher chance of success. It's not giving up, it's strategically using your resources to achieve your biggest goals.