Do you have a mentor? The road to success is a lot easier if you have someone on your team who has been there before. A solid network can be the difference between success and failure.

Do you need to change? When things aren’t going our way, we have a tendency to blame every thing and every one but ourselves. But, it may be our plan that is the problem. Don’t be afraid to make changes mid-course. The world is constantly changing. The job you saw for yourself may exist in another form than when you started out. Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to fulfill your goals in different ways than you intended.

Would life be better without this goal? Sometimes giving up is good thing. The goal you set may be unrealistic, and pursuing it may be causing more harm than good. When evaluating your goals, ask yourself if this goal is in your and your family’s best interest. If not, it may be best to walk away.

What would you tell someone in your shoes? Be honest with yourself. If your best friend was in the same situation you are in now, would you advise them to throw in the towel, adjust their course, or keep going? In hard situations, you need to be your own best friend.

Cortney Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City. You can follow her on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.