The Dip
A former colleague was obsessed with business writer Seth Godin. Or, as we liked to say at the office, she’s “ob-sethed.” Years ago, she turned me on to one of Godin’s books, The Dip. After reading this short but powerful tome, I began to understand why she was so enamored of Godin’s brain (not a bad name for a sci-fi flick, by the way).
Godin, if you’re not familiar, is an original thinker and a contrarian, a combination not much in evidence these days. In The Dip, he sets one of our culture’s most-treasured maxims on its ear:
“Winners never quit and quitters never win. — Attributed to Vince Lombardi (and my mom)
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.” — President Calvin Coolidge
“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” — NCAA Basketball Championship Coach Jim Valvano
I’m sure there are hundreds more, but you get the idea.
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The subtitle of The Dip sums up Godin’s different-drummer premise: “A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit and When to Stick.”
Sounds simple enough. But as with most things, “Easier said than done.” — The Essex (# 1 Billboard Hot 100, 1963)
According to Godin, quitting can sometimes be the smartest strategic move. You just have to know when. The key is to understand the Dip, which he describes as “the long slog between starting and mastery.”
So how do you know when it’s time to throw in the towel? When you determine you can’t be “the best in the world.”
I know what you’re thinking (because I thought it too). There can only be one best in the world. Does that mean we should all give up right now and crawl back under the covers for the rest of our lives? As appealing as that sounds, the answer is a resounding “no!”
Because here’s the good part. We get to define our own world. Of course, not everyone can be Eric Clapton or LeBron James or Meryl Streep (arguably the best in the world in their respective fields). But you can decide to be the best in your home town, your market niche, or your own family. It’s up to you. And that’s quite empowering in my book.
Speaking of books, this is a positive message for those of us who write for a living. Way back when I thought I wanted to be a stand- up comedian (before I actually tried it and hated it), I had a hard time watching professional comics. Some of them were so good, they left me depressed. I’ve had similar feelings when reading truly great authors, such as Tom Robbins or Michael Chabon, knowing I’ll never reach that level. But I’m okay with that now. I’ve narrowed my world to “me.” (I know, it sounds really self-absorbed.) My goal is to be the best writer I’m capable of becoming. (Cue the Army theme song.) And if I can establish a reputation as the best author of quirky insider Vegas stuff in the process, that’s a nice bonus. But not absolutely necessary.
In the meantime, if you think working harder will save your career in the coal mining industry or the DVD factory (or even the traditional publishing biz), check out The Dip. Or just read the writing on the wall.
