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3 out of 5
by
Daniel
from
San Francisco, CA | May 7, 2008
It's all pretty obvious, but I saw a copy of this 80-page book lying around at work and figured that I could use something to read in the gym. The main point doesn't even need that much space to get across: persistence is overrated; if one doesn't expect long-term success in something (be it a career, relationship, or whatever), it's better to quit immediately than stick with it. The Dip is the hard slog between being barely competent at something ("beginner's luck" is the phrase Godin uses) and being the best in the world at it, and if you're not going to be able to slog through it, you should give up and try something else.
One interesting point that Godin makes that I hadn't thought much about before is that while being well-rounded and good at most things is beneficial in school (I believe that the example he uses is that getting straight Bs is viewed as being better than getting Cs and Ds plus an A or two), it doesn't matter in adult life, where those who are most rewarded are those who excel in a particular field. No one cares whether Barry Bonds can write an essay or how fast Salman Rushdie can wheeze his way around a track.
4 people found this review helpful
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2 out of 5
by
Michael
from
Lancaster, OH | Jan 10, 2009
Seth Godin is a marketing demi-god. And he knows a thing or two about everything else as well. He is one of those rare individuals who deserves the title of visionary. His blog at http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ is a must read if you are in the workplace as an owner, manager or cubicle grunt.
And he knows what’s best for this ADD brain of mine. Keep it short (a mere 96 small pages with big print) and keep it focused. The core idea the entire book centers around one dilemma that each of us has faced in our lives at one time or another: Do you quit? Or do you gut it out, hoping that things get better? And how do you know when to make this decision. This book focuses on one key principle: the dip AKA that “long slog between starting and mastery.” You know what this is… the difference between the guy who is the resident golf pro at a country club and a member of the PGA tour, or the writer who has finished a manuscript and has gotten it rejected, but with a personal note to try again, and the agented, published writer.
The dip creates scarcity. That is that it weeds out the people who aren’t that serious about what they want, and creates the demand for the skills and products for those that make it through the dip to the other side. Godin insists that you need to be able to determine what is a dip and what is a dead-end, and to make sure that you don’t waste energy on the dead-ends. Sticking with something because “winners never quit” is a stupid strategy, because it is inherently untrue. We all are quitters in some way.
Godin has some interesting ideas (as always) but I’m not sure I’m in 100% agreement with him here. I understand the need to strive for excellence. But, if I can’t be number 1 or 2 in a market, it is time to get out?!? Not sure about that one. If I play Football Tycoon on Facebook, should my goal be for the Poo-Flinging Sock Monkeys to get trophies for being #1 or #2 in several categories? What if you take a job (or are in a dead-end job) that simply meets the needs of your family for now, even if it is not going to inspire you or catapult you to the top of the organization? I think there is some value in “settling” in the short term and acknowledging that there are different definitions of success.
It is a good book that makes you think about how you spend your energy and how to decide when to cut your losses and run.
1 people found this review helpful
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5 out of 5
by
Tricia
from
Cincinnati, OH | Mar 27, 2009
Weirdly enough, this is the first Seth Godin book I've read although he's a marketing guru and I, well you know, work in marketing.
I put this succinct book on hold from the library because I thought the title and subtitle were provocative. Hmm, what could it mean? Obviously something I needed to find out.
And then when I was having one of those days at work, possibly one of the worst days I've had in the six months at my current position, it fortuitously became available for pick up. I mean, a book on quitting? Come on, manna from heaven when you're having a rotten day.
Godin's book is easily digestible for the fast reader, not taking more than an evening to read. However, I had lots of work and other responsibilities going on so had to read it over three nights versus devouring it. I have to say perhaps this was best, because it allowed me to reflect on his straightforward words.
Basically the book is about when you should quit an endeavor versus when you should stick with it. Doesn't matter whether its a job, a career, a relationship, a sale, a hobby. You name it. Sounds simple enough, right?
Godin cuts to the chase and asks the hard questions. Are you in a place where you really should just quit? Are you in a place where you want to quit, but you really should stick it out? How do you know? What do you do?
At face value, this is a clever book by a clever man. It isn't overly pedantic or verbose; it cuts to the chase and sums up what we all might think we know. At times, he's a little pompous, but if I were a marketing guru, I would be too.
If you think you've thought about these quit/stick questions and have found answers, then this book will serve as a reminder. A gentle nudge. If you think you've thought about these questions but haven't found the answers, then this book will guide you to think and hopefully act about your situation in a very simple, but effective way. If you've never thought about these questions and don't care about the answers, then maybe you should. You might just be ready to quit.
A thought-provoking work. I definitely want to read more by Godin.
2 people found this review helpful
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4 out of 5
by
Gene Babon
from
The United States | Apr 7, 2008
I'm a fan of simple and this book is simple. The message is clear:
Being the Best in the World is Seriously Underrated
The Dip refers to "the long slog between starting and mastery." Extraordinary benefits accrue to the tiny minority who are able to get through The Dip by persisting longer than most.
To be the best at anything you have to quit. You have to quit the right stuff at the right time. Quit the Cul-de-Sacs of life -- those dead ends are aren't likely to take you anywhere. Once you quit Cul-de-Sacs (dead-end projects, hobbies, jobs, etc.) you can refocus your resources on getting through The Dip and mastering those few things in life that matter to you most.
How do you know which projects to quit? You should quit if the project (hobby, job, etc.) has a dip that isn't worth the reward at the end. Never quit anything with great long-term potential just because you can't deal with the stress of the moment.
Final thought: "A woodpecker can tap twenty times on a thousand trees and get nowhere, but stay busy. Or he can tap twenty-thousand times on one tree and get dinner."
I chose dinner over staying busy.
2 people found this review helpful
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2 out of 5
by
Michelle
from
Austin, TX | Feb 25, 2009
This book was a disappointing read with only two points - either stick with it if you think you'll be successful or quit and do something else that you will be successful at.
3 people found this review helpful