Lean into the dip and get out when it serves you.
So, I’ve just finished reading Seth Godin’s “The Dip” for the second time. It’s an awesome book and every time I wonder “Why am I doing this?” I go back and re-read the book. It’s a short read and well worth it for anyone who feels like they are struggling in their business.
You see, we all get into business to fulfill our dreams. I’m fulfilling dreams of financial freedom, time independance, and changing the world. I haven’t reached those goals yet, but I work towards them every day. I want to make smart decisions in the process too. I don’t have time to deal with huge setbacks or starting over when I could have kept going. That’s why I love the book “The Dip.”
Last year, I changed my target market to what I figured would be a more lucrative market. So, I changed my brand, I invested in a new website, and I launched a new business name. I thought within 6 months, I’d be able to start attracting those kinds of clients. There I was 14 months later and I didn’t even have ONE on the roster. I was beginning to wonder if I’d made a wise choice. I wondered if I had picked a market I could never get my hands on.
In reading the book, I realized that this is what “The Dip” is all about. There are others who have chosen this path. Others who didn’t stay the course. They left, moved on, and never got to reap the benefits. After reading the book, I know that I’m totally IN that dip and I’m leaning in. I’m creating things that I believe will be beneficial to these clients. I’m heavily investing in my own education on how to reach this particular niche. I’m also making sure that my team and I are ready for when we get to the other side and these clients DO start coming in. It may be slow right now, but I know we’ll get there.
Sometimes it’s not the best idea to stay. Sometimes you have to get out when the gettin’ is good. Seth talks about that too. He describes my previous career to a tee! There came a point where I looked at my odds, I looked at where I was, and I closely examined what I really wanted. That’s when I decided that I didn’t want to BE in the dip. I wasn’t willing to lean in. I didn’t want what came with being there. Seth says it’s best to get out the moment you realize you don’t want to make it through to the other side. I hadn’t read the book yet, but I’m grateful I figured that one out before I spent another 10 years living a life I didn’t want to live.
I think there comes a time in every virtual business, like ours, that you wonder whether it’s worth it to continue. I’ve recently spoken with several Virtual Assistants who are revamping their business or leaning into the dip as they continue to move forward on their paths. All of them are choosing their paths and making sure they WANT to be where they are.
If you are wondering what direction you want to go, I highly recommend Seth Godin’s book. It makes a whole lot of common sense!
Are you in a dip? Are you leaning in? Read the book and share your experience of “The Dip” with us.
Kristen Beireis
Kristen Beireis works with affluent coaches who are expanding their business to include a marketing implementation team. Kristen and her team help these coaches earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more, while working less. For Kristen, her work is all about helping coaches change more lives in hopes that someday it will bring peace. For more information, visit http://www.coachesmarketingsource.com.
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