The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (And When to Stick)
by Seth Godin
Portfolio (2007)
Yesterday, I was asked, “Are you going to close Lemuria?” I smiled back and simply said, “No.”
Of course, no one knows the future, but as I reflect on Godin’s The Dip, I’m reinforced by his concepts of using a big picture view of building small business. Using a big picture view, small businesses must have resources laid up ahead of time in order to deal with unsuspecting problems. This recession has produced many problems for small businesses, forcing us to question our focus and judgments.
Godin emphasizes that difficult times create difficult work. However, opportunity for more profit exists as we give our best effort to oppose a severe dip. Ask yourself, “Is this dip my greatest ally?” Remember shortcuts are not the answer. Investing time and money into something that can get better is adding value. Don’t play the game if you can’t give it your best effort. Keep in mind who decides what’s best. You do!
Now is a great time to start a new business or refortify or renew an old one. On an individual level, it is also an advantageous time to contribute one’s labor to a place with a quality vision.
Lemuria = A good bookstore? We are being tested. We hope to be authenticated by this process. As we confront this “dip” we want more of the better books in our inventory, and we are striving to be better booksellers. We want to practice good customer service (which is easier with fewer customers). Our readers are our judge and jury. You decide the success of our book-selling. Compare us to our competition as they work through their “dip,” too. Furthermore, book-selling as an industry is changing. Lemuria wants to change in light of all this and become something better in the process.
Seth’s Dip questions sticking with or moving on, striving for excellence whichever the decision.
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