Are You Stuck in The Dip?

 

Situation: You're Deciding Whether Your Current Project  is Worthwhile...

I just finished reading The Dip, by Seth Godin.  It's a very quick read, covering "when to quit and when to stick" - that has a lot of useful applications for Project Managers.  Seth places a high value on "being the best in the world" at something.  He essentially recommends you quit the things you are doing that will never help you be the best (in whatever niche you choose) in favor of focusing on things that will.  The "Dip" concept just means that anything significant you take on will be easy at first, then you'll go through a rough patch that you'll either be stuck in (because you really can't be successful) or power your way through (because this particular project is a great fit for you).

PMs often have trouble quitting projects that are headed nowhere.  Here are a couple of things he says specifically about projects (page 59):

"You should quit if a project you're working on has a Dip that isnt worth the reward at the end.  Quitting the projects that don't go anywhere is essential if you want to stick out the right ones.  You don't have the time or passion to be the best in the world at both."

He's pretty much saying you shouldn't stick with a project that there isnt a good business case for delivering OR that doesnt promise to deliver the personal rewards that you are looking for.  You need to think big picture - "How does this fit into my career?" and "How will stakeholders view the value of this project once its done?"

Here are some other useful excerpts:

Three Questions to ask yourself before quitting:
1.  Am I panicking? (never do it, think through the situation thoroughly)
2.  Who am I trying to influence? (Is it the project sponsor or a market of future employers?  and is positive influence via this project beyond your reach now regardless of the outcome?)
3.  What sort of measurable progress am I making?  (if the answer is no, quit.  "Surviving is not succeeding)

Here's probably his best bit of advice - 

Never start a project that doesn't help you get to that "best in the world" status.   So are you working toward that best [insert niche here] Project Manager in the world status?