Rule number 1 in the Entrepreneur Playbook is to “never stop trying”. Never give up. Keep pressing.

But there comes a point where perseverance becomes a self-defeating strategy. Clients can tell when you’re trying too hard. No one likes someone who tries too hard. Just ask any beautiful girl.

You need to watch the client for telltales that he or she is getting irritated. “Enough already!” can be communicated by body language, facial muscles, or simply employing the “play dead” strategy.

When you don’t want to hear any more from someone you simply play dead until they go away.

This applies to activities other than selling. For example, maybe you’ve resolved to write a blog post every day for the rest of your life. That is a pretty admirable resolution, and once you’re into year two without missing a day you can rightly feel proud of yourself. But when year three arrives your pearls of wisdom may have lost some of their lustre.

More relevant, perhaps your audience will be a bit tired.

You need to stop trying so hard. Take a break from the blog writing.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.