Giving up is losing hope; changing focus is taking advantage of opportunities right in front of you. If you do not know when it is a good time to make a change, here are some suggestions:

Five-year plan. It is important to give any plan at least five years to be established. If you cannot invest that amount of time, you might not want to try it. If after five years you have tried everything and there is little to no progress, you might want to consider something new.

Other interests. Be aware of other interests that present themselves during this five-year time. If nothing has taken off in your original plan, have a backup plan.

Life changes. Life will change, and when it does, you decisions will change. Do not view investing in family as failure in other areas of life. By having a strong, committed, and loving family, you accomplish something that many never do.