The show dipped. Fewer listens, slower growth, and that little voice that loves drama tried to say, “Maybe you’re done.” Cute. I’m not done. I treat dips like a smoke alarm. Annoying, loud, and useful. They tell me something needs attention. So I pull out my favorite tool for momentum: turn failure into a trigger.
Let’s start with the Dunning Kruger effect. It’s the graph that explains why your confidence spikes after reading one article, then craters when reality shows up. I’ve lived on that first peak more times than I can count. Learn a new concept, feel invincible, then hit an opposing opinion or a tough project and tumble into the valley of despair. That drop is where most people pivot or quit. I used to bail too. Then I learned to love the slope of enlightenment. It’s where competence grows, slowly, consistently, rep by rep.
Reps are my thing. I use the Rule of 100. I do not start a new initiative unless I’m willing to do 100 reps. That rule protects me from chasing shiny objects and it builds real skill. It also forces me to design for sustainability. Fancy plans die fast. Boring systems win.
Here’s how I turn a bad week into rocket fuel. I use the SPARK Cycle from my book, Habit Craft 101.
Simple. Pick a tiny action that’s almost too easy. One paragraph. One outreach message. One edited clip. If it needs willpower every time, it’s too big.
Prompted. Make it automatic. Tie it to a time, place, or tool. Calendar ping at 7:30. Post-it on the mic. Shortcut on the phone. Remove decisions. Friction kills consistency.
Acted. Do it now. No overthinking, no research rabbit holes. You’re not building a cathedral. You’re laying one brick.
Rewarded. Celebrate the completion, not the outcome. I check a box, sip a smug coffee, and tell myself, “Nice work.” That tiny dopamine hit keeps the loop spinning.
Kept. Keep what works, ditch what doesn’t. Systems aren’t religion. If the prompt fails, change it. If the action is still too big, slice it thinner.
That’s the Ladder of Failure. Each rung is a tiny experiment. Some break. No problem. You fall one inch, not off a cliff. Better to step on a Lego than reenact a Wile E. Coyote sketch.
Reflection matters too. I ask two questions when a project stalls. Why did I start? What did I learn? My why for the podcast is simple. I’m building public speaking reps and sharing practical habit tools that make real life lighter. The lessons? I’ve published 36 episodes so far. I’m a third of the way to my 100 rep promise. I’ve learned better storytelling, tighter answers, and how to pause instead of ramble. On camera, I’m less stiff and more useful. Progress, not perfection.
One more trick that compounds everything. When I’m down, I lift someone else up. It snaps me out of self-absorption and builds community. I’ve been partnering with creators who are in the arena, not on the sidelines. We share what’s working, support launches, and trade feedback. Momentum is contagious if you hang out with people who build.
If you’re stuck, try this. Pick one stubborn task and run it through SPARK. Simple action. Clear prompt. Immediate execution. Tiny reward. Keep the part that worked. Tomorrow, repeat. In a week, you’ll have a streak. In a month, you’ll have a new identity. That identity is the whole game.
Dips will happen. Cool. That just means it’s time to light the spark.