I went to see Seth Godin last Tuesday in Ann Arbor on The Dip Tour… exceptional. I finished the book later in the week and was excited about giving it to several of my friends and family members. After giving it more thought, and reading this review, I considered that maybe everyone might not find the value in it.
Self realization is what makes “the dip” so powerful. If you don’t realize you’re in a dip, or even worse, you don’t realize you’re in a cul-de-sac, the whole concept is pointless (If you don’t care, it’s even more pointless!). There are plenty of people who live day to day doing their job, collecting a paycheck and are perfectly happy doing so.
Pushing ourselves, challenging ourselves, is not comfortable. That’s what keeps most people from stepping outside their “comfort zone”. Are the rewards at the end of the dip worth the effort? Most people elect to play it safe and have decided long ago that risk is not an option. This is where mediocrity creeps in. We’ve been programmed to stay in line and do what we’re told.
I think everyone can learn from The Dip. I believe that at the very least, it gives meaning to their struggle, their dip, whatever it may be. What they decide to do about their dip is entirely up to them.