I am generally a proponent of “marginal steps to a better world.” Make small, incremental changes. Improve little things, as long as you’re improving.
Sometimes though, you’re careening toward a cliff. Slowing down gradually isn’t going to save you. You need the drastic brake, the cold turkey, the hard reset.
You shouldn’t do it often. It often has unintended consequences; disruptions to things other than what you’re aiming for. But you also shouldn’t do it often because it rarely works. It’s an emergency option for when less drastic measures have been exhausted.
But when you do it, do it right. Burn the boats. Don’t leave yourself any escape routes. Commit; put money on it if you have to. Whatever it takes to grab that last lifeline before you go over.
The last thing you want to do is have to do it again.
The Opportunity Machine 