Dazed and confused

Both of the CQ WPX contests give me fits, CW and SSB. Why? I get so confused about what I need to be doing.

Do I try and catch the contest spirit of sheer numbers and work as many stations as I possibly can? Do I try and work as many DX stations as I can at the expense of US and Canadian stations? Do I try and search out countries that I need to confirm? Do I try and find that elusive station in South Carolina that will complete my WAS via LOTW?

If I was able to 'run' then it wouldn't matter, it would mostly be decided for me. But when you operate search and pounce exclusively, then it becomes a matter of choice. How much time do you spend trying to call a station before giving up and moving on? A number of times I was about to move on when I finally got through. But did I spend too much time calling that one station? Should I have been trying to work others and come back later?

I seem to be overwhelmed when you're able to work just about anyone from anywhere.

In the end, however, it was mostly a game of WHO could I actually work when the contest started. Running low power, I didn't get through often, and when I did, I felt that I ended up causing more problems on the other end with repeats. I do appreciate everyone who stuck with me and dug out my call or my serial number, I know it wasn't easy.

The second day was better after the herd had thinned out some. I added a couple of new countries overall, plus several that I'd only worked before on CW.