* Based on “The Dip” by Seth Godin
Your inability to quit what isn’t working and to persist in what does is the #1 reason you aren’t as successful as you wish you were.
It’s why you can’t get those 6 pack abs, buy that fancy car or land your dream job.
You’re miserable at quitting and mediocre at persistence and it’s keeping you very, very average.
If that last line offended you then good, there’s hope.
Your anger means you don’t want to be average, so here’s what you need to do…
You need to power through the dip and quit anything at which you can’t be the absolute best.
First, on being the best.
Being the best at something means you are willing to do anything to learn, to grow and to achieve in that area no matter how uncomfortable it gets.
If you want a 6-pack it means you will skip cake, wake up early to run and do all that no matter how tired you are or how many distractions get in your way.
If you want to build a multimillion-dollar business it means that you will work long hours, take risks, fail, and get right back up until you succeed.
Being the best means going all in.
Going all in means believing in yourself and making sacrifices.
Think of 3 things you want to achieve in your life right now. If you are not willing to go all in on any one of them then let it go and accept you will be mediocre at them.
And that’s ok. The stress is off and you have the energy to put towards something that resonates with you on a deeper life.
Case in point I will never be a great dancer. I will enjoy being mediocre and entertain others with my “moves.”
Action step: Write down 5 goals you are currently working on. Ask yourself whether you are willing to go all in on each. If the answer is not immediate yes then drop it as a goal. You will still improve at it by default but it does not deserve your driving energy.
“Quit anything that you are not willing to be the best at.”
To clarify, this does not mean to stop trying new things or seeking general improvement. That is essential to growth.
What it does mean is that you should not devote the time and focus reserved for your deeper whys to things you aren’t willing to sacrifice for.
Second, survive the dip.
Stop me if this sounds familiar.
You’ve got a goal, a big hairy audacious goal and you’re chomping at the bit to get started.
You make plans, tell your friends and family and get to work.
Enthusiasm is high, hours are long and you’re in the groove.
You work and you work and it feels good because you’re taking action and things are getting done.
But after a while, the newness wears off and the things getting done don’t seem to get you anywhere.
And the days start to drag and friends and family have long stopped cheering you on.
Until one day you think, “Ah the Hell with it! This wasn’t what I was supposed to do, I’ll figure something else out.”
And you quit, give in, fold, capitulate and turn belly up.
The problem is you didn’t strategically quit, you got lost in the dip.
The Dip
The dip is the trough that follows initial enthusiasm.
It is the graveyard of great dreams filled with tedium and work…lots and lots of work.
The dip is the first real test of anything worth doing and it is where 90% of people fail.
They just can’t handle the contrast between what they thought “it” was going to be like and how it is.
But that’s not you because you know that on the other side of the dip is the climb.
And the climb is the route to where you really want to be.
So here’s how to survive the dip.
1. Make sure you pick something you can be the best in the world at and is deeply meaningful to you.
2. Surround yourself with supportive people and tell them what you will accomplish so you won’t let them down.
3. Check in on your goals daily and keep them written somewhere you have to look at frequently.
4. Burn the ships to create no other alternative than success in your mind.
5. Focus on the small wins every hour and every day (They exist even in the dip)
6. Surround yourself with others on your path who have been through the dip – it helps to know what’s on the other side.
7. Take Breaks – You are a human being, not a human doing. Even Elon Musk takes days off.
I bet you never thought that the answer to success would be quitting, but then again you haven’t really succeded yet so how would you know?
Offended again?
You wouldn’t have read this far unless you wanted more out of life.
So here’s the deal…
Quit anything you’re not willing to be the best at the world at,
And steel your resolve, build your tribe, celebrate your wins and slog through the dip until one day you realize you’re in that 10% who made it out the other side.
Want more?
Grab a copy of “The Dip” here.
Check out more amazing artwork by Jeremy Collins here
And to help push through the dip on the way to your fitness goals, make sure to book your free strategy session with one of our expert coaches by clicking here.
Whether you decide to work with us or not, you’ll walk away with a personalized plan with the exact steps you need to take to reach your goal…
We do this for free because we believe everyone should have the knowledge to take control of their health and their lives.
Our business is coaching, not hoarding information so it’s our pleasure to help you succeed whether it’s with us or on your own.
Brandon and the Virtuo Team
