If I am breakeven after a while on the table I make some assessments:

1. Do I have a significant edge versus opponents? If not I try to find a better table/tables.

2. Have I developed strong reads which I can exploit if I continue?

3. Have I given off tells, tendencies or information that I can use against villains?

In general, if people dont fear me on the table or fail to accept that I am table captain, I dont like my situation. Fear hinders the brain from functioning optimally, just as stress does. But if you scare them too much they will leave the table- so its a balancing act. More often than not the good players leaves... which makes it shorthanded versus fish. Yummy!