The Dip by Seth Godin

I recently finished the new book by Seth Godin, The Dip. It is a very short book which could be read in one sitting. I have read a few of Seth Godin's other books, and this one was similar but also very different.

This book had one main theme, a very simple theme and point, and was consistent on the main point.

The Dip tells us that whatever we do, we need to be the best in the world. If what you are working on right now is not helping you (or your company) to become the best in the world in your field, you need to quit it immediately.

Godin describes the actual dip as, "The Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery. A long slog that's actually a shortcut, because it gets you where you want to go faster than any other path. The Dip is the long stretch between beginner's luck and real accomplishment."

What he says in nothing ground breaking, but it is articulated in a very good way, and also a great reminder of where you want to be long term.

The one thing that stands out and I will remember is that no matter what you do strive and work toward being the best in the world. An example he uses is from the section The Biggest Mistake They Made in School:
"Just about everything you learned in school about life is wrong, but the wrongest thing might very well be this: Being well rounded is the secret to success.
When you came home from school with two As, a B+, and three Bs, you were doing just fine. Imagine the poor kid who had an A+ and four Cs. Boy, was he in trouble.
Fast forward a few decades from those school days, and think about the decisions you make today--about which doctor to pick, which restaurant to visit, or which accountant to hire. How often do you hope that your accountant is a safe driver and a decent golfer?
In a free market, we reward the exceptional."