Robert E. Lee's defensive tactics during the spring of 1864 led Ulysses S Grant to realize that continued direct assaults upon the Confederate entrenchments "would cause a slaughter of our men that even success would not justify." He concluded that he would have to modify his plans. As he explained to Halleck:
"I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now have. The act purely on the defensive behind breastworks...Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed...I have therefore resolved upon the following plan..."
LESSON: When you realize that the path you're on won't lead to success, or it will, but at too great a cost, don't abandon your goal. Instead, develop an alternative approach to get you there.
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