The Dip is the second book we’ve covered by Seth Godin (Tribes was the first) and in typical Godin fashion it’s a very short but enjoyable read. The book’s tagline: “A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (And When To Stick), basically nails the premise and the author proceeds to illustrate his basic quitting theory with various examples.

Godin begins by introducing the idea that ‘Being the Best in the Wolrd is Seriously Underrated’. The main focus of the book is that if you don’t think that you can, with enough effort and time, become the best in the world at something, then it is not worth pursuing. This runs counter to the conventional wisdom that one should try as many things as possible and develop a well-rounded skill set. Godin argues that the people who are truly successful are those who are obsessive about what it is they do and do not quit until they master their skills. The theory is that it is because of these people’s ability to quit or better yet, avoid even starting things that will distract them from their long-term mastery of specific skills that they are able to maintain the focus and dedication necessary to power through.

Godin then introduces the concept of the Dip which he says occurs any time we attempt to learn a new skill. The process begins with a strong start where we receive ample positive feedback and the novelty of learning makes it easy for us to remain engaged and focused. This period is then followed by a “long slog” that occurs between starting and mastery where improvement becomes more and more difficult and painstaking and we receive less rewarding feedback and measurable results. This period is then followed by two possible outcomes: eventual mastery or a plateau that we are unable to overcome. If we are engaged in an activity that we are eventually capable of mastering and becoming adept at, Godin believes that we are in a Dip that will eventually be followed by a sharp incline resulting in expertise. The rest of the book is spent illustrating how to identify when you are in a Dip and should lean into it and power-through or when you have peaked and continuing would be an exercise in futility.

Godin uses three curves to illustrate the possible outcomes: The Dip, The Cul De Sac, and The Cliff.

A Dip is what we’d like to see and indicates that we are on the right track.

Godin argues that what makes mastery of certain skills or professions valuable is scarcity that is manufactured by barriers to entry that are imposed by those at the top. This is illustrated by the example of Organic Chemistry for pre-med students which the author argues is a screen that is in place in order weed out the unmotivated or unfit candidates for medical school which ultimately makes attending medical school a valuable endeavor.

A Cul De Sac happens when no matter what we do we (or our job, venture, etc) don’t get better, don’t get much worse, but just simply are. Cul De Sacs are dead ends and the opportunity cost of staying with them is too high.

A Cliff is relatively hard to identify for general purposes, but Godin likens it most to smoking cigarettes. Something that over time becomes more and more painful to quit until it eventually kills us or we cannot continue any further.

Godin argues that in general, the short-term pain or anxiety caused by quitting now is generally given more weight than the long-term benefit of freeing ourselves up to focus on what we can really do well. If we are able to teach ourselves to quit with purpose and without hesitation when we identify cul de sacs, or better yet if we can make decisions that allow us to avoid even starting things that will not lead to Dips, then we will be much better off.

Basically, the book can be summed up as follows:

Quit the wrong stuff.
Stick with the right stuff.
Have the guts to do one or the other.
Being the Best in the World is Seriously Underrated

I believe that much of what Godin discusses is valid when taken in a professional context. Knowing what jobs are going to pan out and which ones we are going to be stuck in without upward mobility is a valuable skill. I do, however, think that he may be somewhat oversimplifying the concept, and that there is much to be said about exploring things that allow us to be well rounded people in our personal lives. I know with certainty that it is largely as a result of my varied interests and hobbies that I am better equipped to find opportunity to relate to people in ways that often eventually lead to unexpected professional opportunities. I caution readers to take Godin’s advice too literally, but I certainly think that there is merit to the general theme of the book.

I recommend giving it a read and determining its validity for yourself.

As always, we look forward to your comments, thoughts, and ideas.

-Patrick R

patrick@rabbitholeconsulting.com

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