THE DIP

As the new year approaches many of us will re-evaluate our goals from 2017, set goals for 2018, or just start setting goals for the first time.  If you have set goals in the past, how many times did you achieve those goals?  If a goal was not achieved, did you change the goal for the next year or abandon the goal all together?  If you abandoned the goal, was it for the right reasons?

This post comes after I completed reading “the dip” by Seth Godin.  Seth goes into detail about what the dip is and how the dip is a part of anything and everything worth doing in life.  “The dip is the long slog between starting and mastery.”  It is a set of artificial screens set up to keep most people out and allow the select few to flourish.

Another key component Seth talks about is the Cul-de-Sac.  The Cul-de-Sac is the situation where you work and work and work and nothing really changes.  It does not get a lot better or worse, it just is.  All in all Seth’s message is to stick with the dips that are likely to pan out, and quit the Cul-de-Sacs to focus your resources.

The challenge with the message above is very few people have the courage to realize quitting is NOT bad when done for the right reasons.  As Seth states, “a few people will choose to do the brave thing and end up the best in the world.  Informed people will probably choose to do the mature thing and save their resources for a project they’re truly passionate about.  Both are fine choices.  It’s the last choice, the common choice, the choice to give it a shot and then quit that you must avoid if you want to succeed.”  Start taking the time prior to beginning new tasks and determine if your time, money, energy, and commitment are worth starting the task.  If you can already find a reason to quit, then when it gets hard you inevitably will quit and look for the “new” thing.

Lastly, for all those young athletes out there, think about the new move or skill you have been working on to improve your game.  Are you one to go through the motions and quit when it gets too hard or after a couple attempts?  If so, think about the dip and know that pushing through to master the move or skill will lead to further success inside and outside those lines of competition.  Push through the dip for the possibility of becoming the best in the world.

Please check out “the dip” by Seth Godin.  It is a short book and well worth your time to get you thinking differently about how to attack all aspects of your life.  HAPPY READING!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Dip-Little-Book-Teaches-Stick/dp/1591841666

REFERENCES:

Godin, S. (2007). the dip. New York, NY: Penguin.