The Dip – A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
This book has been out for awhile and I wish I had read it back in 2007. The thing is, it’s very relevant to me right now and I likely would’ve picked it up for a re-read now. I write this review as we’re in the midst of the coronavirus, mostly isolated to our homes, and while trying to grow this new business.
As I read The Dip (BUY ON AMAZON), I not only looked back on what I’ve done in the past, times I leaned into The Dip, and perhaps times I should’ve quit something but didn’t. Moreso, however, I looked at the present and the future as I look to develop my public speaking business at a time where there isn’t any traditional public speaking going on.
I was able to easily relate to Seth Godin’s dip. I’ve faced it many times in my life. I think back to college. My college was going to be paid for by my parents but, about a month before classes were scheduled to start, my step-dad said he didn’t like my summer work ethic and said if I wanted to go to college, it was up to me to figure out how to pay for it. In the short-term, having committed to an expensive private school, it might’ve been easier to hold off on college. Instead, I chose to lean into the dip, the point when things go from fun and exciting to become a lot of hard work.
I chose to get a job, working 40 or more hours a week, while trying to pay my way through school. Feeling burnt out, instead of studying when I should, I chose to waste time on video games or going out to parties. My grades suffered and in my first two years of college, I was booted out of school three times, only to be allowed back in after writing a letter to my dean.
I hadn’t quit though. Using Godin’s terms, I leaned further into the dip. I found a job that provided me with tuition remission at the school and allowed me to study. Even that didn’t go smoothly, however. I owed the school money and they didn’t want to allow me to take classes until I paid them. Thankfully, I found someone in human resources that fought for me and worked out a plan to allow me to continue.
I ended up graduating, though it took me eight years and, no, I’m not a doctor. That accomplishment, along with the work experience I gained, ended up paying off handsomely in my life. Which is what Godin’s dip is about. The world relies on people quitting. Many systems are set up to challenge people so that most quit. As Godin says, it’s why there is a lot of value placed on being the best.
Godin goes against the norm in The Dip, telling people it’s okay to quit. Quitting and failing are two different things. Quitting can be strategic. If you’re not making progress toward the larger goal, quit and change direction. Just don’t turn into someone who quits every time they face adversity.
Godin goes on to share how you might know it’s time to quit in The Dip. He offers questions to ask yourself and shares thoughts and scenarios for what to do. If you’re into something that has gone from fun to a drag, it will be a timely read for you to help you decide what you should do.
-Don Wadewitz