Hey friend,
Have you ever quit something too early only to watch someone else succeed exactly where you gave up?
I've been there, and it's painful.
But here's the thing: sometimes quitting is exactly what you should do.
Contrary to popular belief, winners quit all the time.
They just quit the right things at the right time.
The trick is knowing the difference between a temporary setback and a permanent dead end.
This is especially crucial when you're working on big projects or goals with multi-year timelines.
Those long journeys are filled with moments where quitting feels like the only option.
But strategic quitting – knowing what to abandon and what to push through – is often what separates those who achieve their biggest goals from those who don't.
In this newsletter, I want to share a framework I've been using for years that helps me decide when to stick with something and when to walk away.
The Dip: That Messy Middle
Over a decade ago, I read Seth Godin's book "The Dip," and its core idea still shapes my decisions today.
Here's the essence: The Dip is that middle place between beginner's luck and real mastery.
Think about when you start exercising after a long break.
Those first few weeks? Amazing progress!
Your skin clears up, you have more energy, you're sleeping better, maybe even eating healthier.
The motivation is high and the progress is quick.
But then around day 30, things change.
Progress slows down.
Your body adjusts to those initial rapid changes.
Getting stronger now takes more effort to challenge yourself.
Some days, you don't even feel like working out.
That initial excitement of seeing yourself as a fit person begins to fade.
And eventually, you hit a point where it feels nearly impossible.
You can't even remember why you started in the first place.
This is The Dip – and it's where most people give up.
Why The Dip Matters
Here's what's fascinating: The Dip is what creates scarcity.
And scarcity creates value.
Think about doctors.
If becoming a doctor was easy, we'd have an oversupply and their market value would plummet.
But medical school is tough, residency is tougher, and the process is designed to weed out the casually interested.
Only the truly committed make it through, which is what makes their expertise valuable.
The same goes for comedians.
There are plenty of naturally funny people in the world.
But how many are willing to hit open mics night after night while everyone else is having dinner and watching Netflix?
How many can handle bombing on stage repeatedly while refining their jokes?
How many can push through the awkwardness of 5-10 bad sets to nail that one joke?
Not many – and that's why successful comedians stand out.
The Wisdom to Quit
Now here's where Seth's message gets interesting.
It's not just about pushing through The Dip all the time.
It's about knowing when to quit.
Winners quit all the time – they just make strategic decisions about what to quit.
This frees them up to channel their persistence into projects where pushing through The Dip is actually worth it.
According to Seth, there are three curves to be aware of:
- The Dip – a temporary setback that you'll push through if you persist
- The Cul-de-Sac – a dead end where you're working hard but nothing's improving
- The Cliff – something that looks good now but is heading toward eventual failure
The key is to push through Dips but quit Cul-de-Sacs and Cliffs as early as possible.
My Personal Dip
I experienced this firsthand with standup comedy.
For three years, I was all in on standup.
In year four, I started a business, and suddenly I was torn between two demanding pursuits.
Going out every night to do three or four open mics while also building a business created a conflict.
Deep down, I knew what I wanted more was the successful business.
I loved standup and who I was becoming through it, but things were deteriorating.
I could feel the push and pull between not giving full effort to my comedy because my mind was on my business.
It took a lot for me to say, "This is not for me right now."
The tough part was going through that ego death.
For years, I had invested in the identity of being a comedian.
Without that, what was I?
But I realized it's worth being a "failure" by one definition if it allows you to be a winner in a game you actually want to play.
Years later, that proved to be the best decision, though it didn't feel like it at the time.
If I hadn't quit standup, I wouldn't have what I do with my business today.
The energy, time, attention, and emotional investment simply wouldn't have allowed the space to build my business the way I wanted.
Beating Your Competition With Soft Skills
What I love about The Dip is that it shows how beating your competitors is often about the soft skills, not the hard ones.
Everyone's developing the hard skills – all comedians are going on stage and writing, all doctors are attending the same classes.
It's what happens "off stage" that makes the difference.
When I talked to comedy mentors, I'd ask: "What are good work habits off stage?"
Because that's where the real separation happens.
It's like the gym – yes, the hour you spend there matters, but what are you doing in the other 23 hours?
Preparing For The Dip Before It Hits
When you identify these "off stage" habits for your field, you're actually identifying failure points for others.
This allows you to master them ahead of time, before The Dip even arrives.
When The Dip hits you with full force, you'll have the awareness to recognize: "This is The Dip, not a sign I should quit."
It's like how we now understand the common cold.
Hundreds of years ago, getting a cold might trigger panic – "Am I dying?"
But today, we recognize it, know what to expect, and can approach it with a level head, even when we feel terrible.
The same applies to The Dip in any project or pursuit.
So ask yourself: What project are you in right now? Are you in The Dip, a Cul-de-Sac, or approaching a Cliff?
The wisdom to tell the difference might be the most valuable skill you can develop.
It saved me years of misdirected effort, and it might do the same for you.
Until next time,
Misbah Haque
Founder & Consultant at Pod Mahal
Writer & Host of Habit Chess
P.S. If you want a hand with starting or growing your podcast, book a free strategy call here.
P.P.S. Grab my book Pod Mahal: Build Your Own Table With Podcasting on Amazon here!
