This is a review of the book
The Dip: Little Book When to Quit and when to Stick by Seth Godin
Seth Godin gives readers challenges. In his past works such as “The Purple Cow” he challenges readers to find different ways to market, different ways to stand out. No one forgets a purple cow, right?
In this fantastic mini book (just slightly larger than your hand), Godin gives us a new challenge. When do we stick with something and when do we quit.
Big Idea 1:
“Winners quit all the time. They just quit the right stuff at the right time
Many marketplaces and businesses profit from people not knowing when they should quit”
Let’s face it. If your going for a job a lot of people want you need to do something to stand out. You need to do what no one else is doing. Hannah Smith is a supreme court law clerk, 1 of 39. You know how many applied – 42,000.
Winners win big. But what you probably don’t know is that winners lazer –focus on what it is they want to accomplish. They demonstrate a defined commitment, and do not let petty things get in their way. Winners DO quit. They quit the things that don’t get them closer to their goal.
If your goal is to run a 5k marathon. You might need to STICK to exercising. You might need to STICK to eating nutrious foods. You might need to QUIT drinking. What sacrifices are you willing to make? If you want to win, your going to make sacrifices, and you will need to stick to it. Don’t forget - there is going to be a jackpot for you at the end of that rainbow.
Big Idea 2:
‘Almost everything in life is worth doing controlled by the Dip’
What is the Dip. Well the dip is that span, between when something stops being fun, and when we get what we want.
When we start something its fun. We start a new sport. Take only public speaking as a hobby. Go out with a new boyfriend. You could be take golf or acupuncture or piloting a plane.
Rapid learning takes place in first few weeks. At this point, its easy to stay engaged.
The Dip is long slog between starting and mastery. It works to set of artificial screens to keep people out, who aren’t in it for the long-haul. You can think of it as a downhill graph. Your motivation is the line, and it curves up the first couple of experiences. Then you get use to what your doing, and motivation declines. Here comes the dip.
Here’s a work example.
Most CEOs endure 25 years in dip before getting position.
For a quarter of a century he needed to suck it up, keep his head down, and do what he was told. He had to put up with meetings he didn’t want to go to. He had to waste time with employees who were not giving their all. He had to endure all office days.
But he got what he wanted. What is it you want, that is worth going through the dip.
Once the dip comes up, you’ve mastered the goal, the skill, the passion. You have arrived.
Strategic Quitting is not the same as failing
S.Q. is conscious decision, great way to avoid failure
Failure – dream is over, giving up, no other options, no time or resources
(Pt. 2 - next week)
No comments:
Post a Comment