9 lessons from The Dip that strengthen you as a creator

Seth Godin’s The Dip is a slim book that offers a simple but often overlooked insight:

Almost every meaningful pursuit includes a stretch where things feel hard, slow, and thankless.

‘The Dip’ is the awkward and frequently crappy phase between beginner’s excitement and real results.

When I first read it, I felt validated and had a burst of energy to keep going when things seemed futile.

Here are 11 takeaways that apply to any creative or entrepreneurial path, especially when you feel stuck and your momentum slows:

The tough stretch is part of the process, not a sign you’re failing.

Every meaningful project or path will reach a point where enthusiasm wanes, and the payoff seems distant.

No one is immune. That’s the Dip. It can and will appear, often several times, in your path. You can see it as an opportunity to test your resolve. The discomfort shows you that you’re in the part that shapes you.

Most people retreat here, which is exactly why pressing forward sets you apart.

I’ve wanted to quit so many times; it’s not even funny. Understanding how the Dip will appear has helped me stay the course.