Stuck In The Dip And How To Get Unstuck

Between the ages of 19 and 25 I started half a dozen businesses. Some never left the ground (Gopher It - an errand service). A couple actually earned some money (The Realty Info Line and selling customized childrens’ books). Only one provided me with a living (My personal fitness training company).

Historically, I’ve been an idea guy. I love to dream…to create new projects. My problem lay in my unwillingness to carry that idea forward through the tough times until it produced the desired outcome. I got stuck in what Seth Godin describes as…

The Dip

the Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery. –Seth Godin, The Dip

Quite simply, I lacked the drive, desire, and in some cases, the resources to power through the Dip until I achieved mastery in my chosen field.

The Dip applies not only to business, but to nearly every activity you can think of, including getting fit and losing weight.

New Year’s resolutions ring any bells?

On January 2nd each year, after the hangover subsides, millions of people start anew…overflowing with enthusiasm and optimism about finally getting in-shape.

All’s well for a couple of weeks or months.

Then it happens. They hit the Dip.

Their bodies adjust to the exercise. Weight loss slows or even stalls. The diet they found so exciting just a few weeks ago has become boring, repetitive and restrictive. Real life begins to exert its influence. Illness, travel, parties, vacations all conspire to derail their progress.

At this point, most people (about 98%) quit. They are either unprepared or unwilling to continue slogging through the Dip until they reach their goals.

The Dip creates scarcity; scarcity creates value. –Seth Godin, The Dip

The next time you go to the beach or the swimming pool, take a look around and count how many people actually look like what you see on the cover of a fitness magazine. My guess is you’ll only need one hand.

While we’d all like to look like a fitness model, the truth is the dip you need to get through is too deep for most. The models made it through and because of that they are revered and worshipped.

If you can’t look like a fitness model, does that mean you should give up all efforts to lose weight and get in-shape? Absolutely NO!

Here’s what you do…

Getting Through The Dip

At the top of a piece of paper, write down a goal that feels right for you.

Then, underneath your goal, identify the dip. Write down all of the things you will need to do to achieve your goal.

For this, you may want to search out people who’ve done what you want to do and ask them what’s involved. Some obvious steps include:

• Eating less fast food and refined sugar.
• Drinking more water.
• Eating fresh meat, vegetables and fruit instead of processed foods.
• Exercising regularly.
• Restricting or eliminating alcohol.
• Limiting contact with people who don’t support your efforts.

Next, you need to determine whether you are willing to do what’s necessary. Don’t take this step lightly. If you’ve tried and failed to reach your weight loss goals in the past, examine what happened. Obviously, some part of the process brought you down.

Finally, plan for all contingencies. Just as an army general never goes into battle with just one plan, you must have your own plan of attack so to speak, plus a plan for when things don’t go as planned.

For instance, if you decide you need to eat more fresh food prepared at home, you may want to research and purchase some new cookbooks.

And if you do eat out, which restaurants serve healthy meals?

If your decide you’re willing to eliminate alcohol, what will you drink instead and how will you explain it to your friends? If they don’t understand, what will you do?

• Will you need to exercise? If so, when will you do it? Do you need to join a gym or buy home exercise equipment?
• How will you deal with getting sick?
• How will you deal with injury?
• How will you deal with pressure from friends, family and co-workers?

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. –Dwight D. Eisenhower

Even with your new plan, prepare for change. Be flexible and willing to “fall down”. Make it a part of your plan that no matter how many times you fall down, you’ll always get up one more time.

Short-Term Focus = Failure

Successfully making it through the dip requires you to focus on the end result. Constantly remind yourself why you are doing what you’re doing.

If you focus on the short-term, such as not having as much fun at parties without alcohol or the discomfort of sore muscles, you’ll quit every time.

You must keep your focus on the reward that awaits you on the other side of the dip.

Now I’d like to know how you’ve gotten through the Dip. Post a comment below.

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