I

June    6th

WHEN    TO  STICK   AND WHEN    TO  QUIT

“Think  of  those   who,    not by  fault   of  inconsistency   but by  lack    of  effort, are too unstable    to  live    as

they    wish,   but only    live    as  they    have    begun.”

—SENECA,    ON  TRANQUILITY OF  MIND,   2.6b

n The Dip, Seth Godin draws an interesting analogy from the three types of people you see in line at the
supermarket. One gets in a short line and sticks to it no matter how slow it is or how much faster the
others seem to be going. Another changes lines repeatedly based on whatever he thinks might save a few
seconds. And a third switches only once—when it’s clear her line is delayed and there is a clear
alternative—and then continues with her day. He’s urging you to ask: Which type are you?
Seneca is also advising us to be this third type. Just because you’ve begun down one path doesn’t
mean you’re committed to it forever, especially if that path turns out to be flawed or impeded. At that
same time, this is not an excuse to be flighty or incessantly noncommittal. It takes courage to decide to do
things differently and to make a change, as well as discipline and awareness to know that the notion of
“Oh, but this looks even better” is a temptation that cannot be endlessly indulged either.