Reflections on "The Dip"

The Dip is an excellent book that can benefit just about anybody. Marketing guru, Seth Godin immediately sets the agenda, stating that this is a book that teaches you when to quit and when to stick. Just eighty pages later, the book is over-leaving you with a totally new perspective on how to tackle your job, career, relationships, and life. "How can 80 pages have such an impact on your life?" you might be asking yourself. Well, put simply, in those eighty pages, Godin describes how to evaluate your situation by objective means. For example, if a job will not provide the opportunity for you to grow in the direction you want to go, then you need not waste the time to become good at something that will not pay reward in the future. Likewise, if you do not have the drive to want to be the best at something, then most likely, it is not something that you should be doing in the first place.

While I think this is a book that everybody should read, I do not completely agree with the entire sentiment. I feel that every experience, whether it be good or bad, is an experience that can prove beneficial in the long run. I think it would be fair to say that all of us have done something that we found little enjoyment from, if any, yet have had some kind of positive impact in our lives. Maybe we're stronger for it. Maybe we learned something. I recently left a job where I received little if any satisfaction. The work was extremely repetitive, the compensation was not the greatest, and there was little to no room to develop the professional skills required for my desired career path. I did quit, as I realized that the more time I spent at the job the longer I was putting off doing something that would be more closely related to my desired career path, as well as professional and personal development. At the same time though, I developed skills in the arena of personal finance, relationships with some great people, and an appreciation for people who devote so much time serving the needs of others. The job was not for me, and would not take me where I wanted to go, but added to my life an experience that I gained from.

The book probably shouldn't be read too literally, but is definitely worth the read. It is enjoyable, gives insight, and provides a way to develop another perspective about what is going on in your life.

Bibliographic Information:

Godin, S. (2007). The Tip: A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (And When To Stick). New York, NY, USA: Penguin Group.