Interview with Seth Godin

Seth Godin’s latest book, The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), is coming to a bookstore near you May 10, 2007.

WebAnalysts.Info asked him a few questions about it.

Who determines if you’re in a Dip? Is it more in the eye and belief of the beholder or more likely decided by external factors?

What are you trying to become the best in world in? If it’s something the outside world must recognize (like the best surgeon or the biggest rap star) then the Dip is an external effect. On the other hand, most of us wrestle with quieter Dips, breakthroughs that matter to us, not to them.

What’s the number one sign that you’re in a Dip?

There are two: things don’t get harder and things don’t get better. A Dip is recognized by the resistance you get when you push. If it weren’t for that resistance, everyone would get to the next level, right?

What if quitting too early means avoiding making more mistakes that you could have gotten even more valuable lessons from?

What does ‘too early’ mean? If you are going to invest your time and effort and money into a project, I’m asking you to consider where the Dip is and what it will take to get through it. If you can’t visualize a Dip, or you don’t have the assets to confront it, then you should pick another project. Quitting (too early or in the Dip) is not the best strategy. You will learn the most and benefit the most if you can be smart about how you apply your effort.

Being in a Dip and getting out if it will probably give most people a bigger rush compared to never having any setbacks at all, don’t you think?

I think that trying and failing in the quest to be the best in the world is the most a person can do. It leads to growth and learning and excitement. Getting through the occasional Dip and learning what it’s like to master something… that feeling of mastery is the desire that gets you to do it again.

If you could give only one piece of advice to someone who thinks he/she has the best idea, what would that be?

Ideas are worth precious little. There’s a ton of ideas out there. What makes someone succeed is what they do with that idea when they’re confronted by the Dip.

What would you say to someone who is feeling like a loser when quitting?

You quit all the time (weren’t you a ballerina at age 8 and a dope fiend in college?)The question shouldn’t be whether or not quitting is a moral failing, but whether being better and smarter at quitting is a useful idea.

Who should buy your new book, The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)?

It’s only 75 pages. Why? So you can get a concept, an idea, a little provocation and then run with it. There are no answers in my book, just questions.

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