Persistence Through the Dip: Lessons in Leadership and Growth

Someone asked me recently what the hardest thing I’ve ever done was.

Two moments came to mind immediately. Both required long, sustained effort in uncomfortable conditions where quitting simply wasn’t an option.

The first was climbing Mt. Rainier. The second was crossing the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim.

I remember vividly the descent from Rainier. After 14 hours of climbing, exhausted and freezing, I turned to my partner and said, “I’m done.”

He grumbled back, “No you’re not. Keep moving.”

I had another six hours left before we reached the car. By then, we had burned roughly 12,000 calories and been on our feet for 20 straight hours. My toes were numb for weeks.

The Grand Canyon trek wasn’t much easier. We spent 20 hours hiking nearly 50 miles, descending and climbing about 11,000 feet each way. For three days afterward, going down stairs was its own small adventure.

So why tell this story? Because both experiences reveal a truth every business owner faces: persistence through the dip.

The Dip

Seth Godin’s The Dip describes that difficult middle stretch between the excitement of starting something and the satisfaction of success. It is where most people quit, often right before things begin to turn.

Recently, a client entered that exact stage. His company had expanded, but the new growth demanded more from him. More marketing. More business development. More uncertainty. The initial excitement had faded, and the grind had set in.

Through our conversations and my own experiences on the mountain and in the canyon, four lessons stood out.

1. Name the Hard

At the bottom of the Grand Canyon’s final nine-mile climb, I knew it was going to be miserable and hot. Saying it out loud helped. Naming difficulty gives you permission to feel uncomfortable while staying committed to the climb.

The same goes for business. Acknowledge when things are hard instead of pretending they aren’t. Then keep moving.

2. Don’t Go Alone

Misery might not love company, but it benefits from it. Having someone who can listen, encourage, or even just say, “You’re not done yet,” lightens the load.

Find a trusted friend, coach, or mentor who can hold space for your doubt. Be careful though. Your team or family often need your steady side, not your storm.

3. Accept the Price of Admission

There is not just one dip in business. There are many. Accept that they are part of the journey.

When you start a new initiative, go for expansion, or past the initial enthusiasm stage, anticipate the rough patch. It doesn’t mean failure. It is the price you pay for growth.

4. Break It Down

When the summit or goal feels too far, shrink the frame. During that 15-hour push out of the canyon, I set micro-goals: make it to the next tree, 20 more steps, the next water station. Small wins fuel endurance.

In business, that might mean focusing on the next client conversation, the next week’s metrics, or the next key hire.

After 60 days of steady effort, my client began to see movement. New referrals came in. Client volume increased. He hit monthly records.

It was not easy or glamorous. There was stress, frustration, and moments of doubt, but persistence pulled him through.

The same is true for every leader. Success often hides just beyond the point where you want to quit.

Keep moving. You’re not done yet.