S6 E16 - How to Know Whether to Quit or Persist

The Structured Literacy Podcast

School improvement is slow, and many quit right before breakthrough. This episode uses the story of gold miners who quit just one metre from striking gold to illustrate a critical lesson: don't give up in the middle of the hard work.

Seth Godin's Three Scenarios:

1. The Dip - The hard slog between starting and mastering (push through)
2. Cul-de-sac - Going in circles with no progress (quit strategically)
3. Cliff - Unsustainable pace that breaks the team (change approach)

How to Know Which One You're In:

• Are you seeing small, measurable progress in student outcomes? You're in a dip, keep going
• Have others succeeded doing what you're doing? It's possible, persist
• Use short-term data to monitor whether instruction is working

If students are learning more than last year, you're making progress. Celebrate small wins, adjust as needed, and don't quit when success might be just ahead.

Has something in this episode resonated with you? Get in touch!

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Fejezetek

1. S6 E16 - How to Know Whether to Quit or Persist (00:00:00)

2. Why Progress Feels So Slow (00:02:31)

3. Using Short‑Term Data Wisely (00:04:07)

4. Celebrate Small, Real Gains (00:05:31)

5. Perfection Is Not The Goal (00:07:32)

6. One Metre From Gold Story (00:09:37)

7. Program Fit vs Needed Tweaks (00:12:11)

8. Coaching, Resources, Next Steps (00:13:36)

9. Understanding The Dip (00:14:43)

10. Spotting Cul‑de‑Sacs In Schools (00:16:44)

11. Avoiding The Cliff Of Change (00:18:35)

12. Strategic Quitting, Not Giving Up (00:20:20)

13. Questions To Decide Push Or Pivot (00:22:21)