While browsing through my list of daily reads, I ran across a disturbing article at USA Today:  "Chargers cut ties to Schottenheimer".  I couldn't ignore it.  In a nutshell, the San Diego Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer, who USA Today called "the winningest active head coach" in the NFL, and cited a "dysfunctional relationship" as the reason.  Apparently, Schottenheimer and general manager A.J. Smith just couldn't seem to get along.

Marty just had a 14-2 season.  What in the world could they have been thinking?!  It basically boils down to communication and relationships.  Folks need to be able to get along.  But the powers that be in San Diego probably didn't stop and think about what they were about to do.  Before making a snap decision, a little quiet reflection should be in order.  And I think the same thing that applies to football teams applies to the Internet.

When times get rough and you're thinking about making a big move, like firing someone (or closing a site), think twice.  By the time things get bad enough that you feel a big change is needed, you're probably already close to winning or getting the results you want.  The most difficult steps in life are often the last few.

The Internet is no different. 

Getting to page 2 of the SERPs is usually pretty easy.  But are you stuck on page 2?  Want to move into the top 10?  Getting there might be twice as hard as it was getting to page 2.  But if you work twice as hard you can see yourself move into that top 10.

Maybe you don't want to be number 10 of 10.  Getting into the top 3 might be twice as hard as it was getting into the top 10.  But if you work twice as hard you can see yourself up.  See the pattern here?

Stop and think about what your decisions and actions (or lack of actions) will do to your site.  But then make a  decision and act.  Don't just stand back and wait.  Work harder.  Do more.  Return is directly correlated to investment.  Invest more.  And spend more time on the details.  Little things matter, too. 

Here's a few more things to look at when you're ready to fire someone… or make a big change at your site:

Should the Chargers have considered what they were doing a little more?  Probably.  Who knows, really.  This could have been a decision months in the making.  But the point I'm going for here is simple.  Start strong… don't give up… don't quit… and success can be yours. 

Be ready to finish as strong as you start. You can win this game!