There's the famous thing that the A&R man from the record company is supposed to do: He's supposed to come into the studio and listen to the songs you've been recording and then say 'Guys I don't hear any singles.' And then everybody falls into a terrible depression because you have to write one.
Use gentle means before you come to extremity and whatever lesson you work him and never take above half his strength nor ride him till he is weary but a little at a time and often.