Unpredictable Dips

“Learn to predict your dips in advance and decide if you’re able to withstand them or not.”
Seth Godin at Ruckusmakers

That was Seth Godin’s advice. To be honest, it puzzled me.

If you don’t know what a “dip” is, think of it as an obstacle that could potentially end your project. Every project has its dips. Seth Godin dedicated a book to dips and it’s a really great book.

I’ll be giving my two-cents on dips for today and tomorrow. I typically don’t write long posts but discussing dips is not a small thing.

Let’s start with “learning to predict your dips”.

This is great advice for those who fail to identify obvious dips or for those who fail to research the not so obvious ones.

But what about the unpredictable dips?

There’s no way you can predict how people will treat you because of your race, the way you look, or your lifestyle (just one scenario of an unpredictable dip).

I’ve always tried to be a “dip predictor”, even before reading Seth Godin books. It’s a way for me to maximize control over everything in life. Mapping out all the “what if scenarios” is second nature to me.

The most difficult dips I’ve faced in projects (and life for that matter) have been the unpredictable ones. There is no way one could foresee some of these dips.

I’ll stick to the example I gave before.

Moving into the tech industry was not easy for me. In fact, I hated my first tech job. I was raised on the streets and was a breakdancing performer who wasn’t accustomed to dressing up and hearing older guys talk about golf and politics.

Getting used to those things didn’t come close my most challenging dip though.

As I gained interest in tech work, I knew that I wanted to be a software developer. After days of research, I mapped out a career path and identified my dips.

It took me three years to land a full-time developer job. Some of my jobs had developer tasks but none were full-time heads down development type of work.

Want to know why it took me three years?

It had nothing to do with my skills and everything to do with my age, my looks, and the way I spoke.

The most challenging dips I faced were dips I could have never predicted. I had no clue that I would have so little in common with the people I worked with.

Being the youngest guy on my teams never helped. You can imagine how some felt when I became their “Team Lead”.

My upbringing and customs were all different from those of my teammates. I often was the only minority in my department and sometimes the only minority of the entire company!

I’ve received unfair treatment due to the things I’ve mentioned. I won’t get into any specifics because some of the stories would make your blood boil.

These dips were the most challenging for me. They were unpredictable ones. Dips I wish never existed… but in fact do.

Don’t get me wrong though. I learned a ton through facing these dips head on. In retrospect, I wouldn’t have grown to be the person I am today without them.

Some dips are impossible to predict. We can heed Seth’s advice and predict major dips but it’s also important to understand that some of the most challenging dips are the unpredictable ones.

These are the kind that truly test you and develop character. If you learn to get passed them, you’re a winner in my eyes.

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This post is for Day 6 of the #RuckusmakersChallenge. If you went to the Ruckusmakers event, feel free to join us even if you’re starting late. We know you can hang!