We entrepreneurs are passionate about our businesses, ideas and values. There is nothing wrong with being passionate, especially when it comes to your business and livelihood. It is important to keep a pulse on your passion to ensure you don't cross over into the realm of obsession.

You may think it is natural to obsess over every aspect of your business because you want it to succeed. However, obsession differs from passion in that you stop making forward progress. Once you start obsessing, you begin spinning your wheels and wasting your effort and energy.

Obsession only stops when we realize our current path isn't getting us any closer to our goals. Here are five ways to stop obsessing and get stuff done.

1. To-do List - Use a to-do list to help you keep tracking toward accomplishing goals. Ensure that your to-do list focuses on actionable tasks that are realistic. This doesn't have to be a list you reboot every morning, but it should be something you keep close by (e.g. in your wallet, smartphone or email).

2. Set Deadlines - Deadlines help you monitor your progress, so use them to your advantage. Set realistic deadlines for yourself. These can be somewhat arbitrary and you can always adjust them if you have made them too aggressive to accomplish (stressing yourself out is not all that helpful). When you use deadlines in combination with your to-do list you can really set yourself up make predictable progress that is repeatable. Set shorter deadlines for easier to accomplish tasks and longer deadlines for things that require more effort. Setting a mix of deadlines will help motivate you because things are getting completed.

3. Peak Productivity - You know your work habits better than anyone else, so use that to your advantage. Are you most alert and focused in the morning? Use that time to chip away at complex tasks that require focus. Perhaps after lunch you are less focused from lunch, use that time to catch up on tasks that require less focus.

4. Be Accountable - Don't rely on yourself to stay focused and on track. Utilize an accountability partner to check in with you on a recurring frequent basis. Are you one of several co-founders? Ask one of the other co-founders to help you be accountable for completing tasks. This doesn't have to become a formal meeting, it can be accomplished in a quick, casual conversation. The point is if others know what you are trying to achieve they can help you refocus your energy or motivate you to continue making progress.

5. Reevaluate Often - Revisit your to-do list and your deadlines frequently to ensure you are tracking toward your goals. Ask your accountability partners if they feel your have correctly prioritized your to-do list and your deadlines. Business is not a straight line, so be flexible with your goals. You may need to adjust them from time to time, but that helps keep your perspective fresh.

Use the techniques above to pull your obsession back to positive passion. Passion is a catalyst to action and when you are taking action you are moving forward. Each time you achieve results it will reignite your passion and continue to fuel further progress.

Stay passionate my friends.