By ofwisdomowl By Steven Pressfield
Short Summary
“Do The Work” is the second book on the Steven Pressfield’s trilogy. If you have not read them, do not miss “The War of Art” and “Turning Pro”. While his first book (The War of Art”) focuses on how we can manage our fears (resistance), his second book (“Do the Work”) focuses on the way to overcome fear … action (start before you think you are ready). On this book, Pressfield highlights the process of creation rather that the end result itself, and persisting in the face of uncertainty. The author encourages readers to embrace their creativity and follow their unconventional hearts, and to stay focused on the work rather than getting caught up in the mystery or glamour of the creative process.
If you liked this one, keep going, try “Turning Pro”.
Quotes that resonated with me
- “Resistance is the dragon that guards the gold.”
- “The only way to learn to do something is by doing it.”
- “Stay stupid. Follow your unconventional, crazy heart.”
- “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
- “Start before you’re ready.“
- “One rule for first full working drafts: get them done ASAP. Don’t worry about quality. Act, don’t reflect. Momentum is everything. Don’t stop. Don’t look down. Don’t think.“
- “You are not the work you do, you are the person you are.”
- “Start with the end in mind but focus on the next step.”
- “The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.”
- “It’s not about perfect, it’s about doing.”
- “You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”
Extended Summary
ORIENTATION: ENEMIES AND ALLIES
Resistance is not out to get you personally. Resistance is a force of nature. It acts objectively. Resistance Is Infallible.
It is that calling or action that most wants to stop us from doing. We can use it as a compass.
Rule of thumb: The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.
Stay Stupid. Ignorance and arrogance are the artist and entrepreneur’s indispensable allies. She must be clueless enough to have no idea how difficult her enterprise is going to be—and cocky enough to believe she can pull it off anyway.
Don’t think. Act. We can always revise and revisit once we’ve acted. But we can accomplish nothing until we act.
When we conquer our fears, we discover a boundless, bottomless, inexhaustible well of passion.
BEGINNING
Start Before You’re Ready Don’t prepare. Begin
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Begin it now.
Stay Primitive. The creative act is primitive.
Get your idea down on paper. You can always tweak it later.
Start at the End. Figure out where you want to go; then work backwards from there. End first, then beginning and middle. That’s your startup, that’s your plan for competing in a triathlon, that’s your ballet.
2 MIDDLE
The universe is not indifferent. It is actively hostile. We can never eliminate Resistance. It will never go away. But we can outsmart it, and we can enlist allies that are as powerful as it is.
Do research early or late. Don’t stop working. Never do research in prime working time.
One rule for first full working drafts: get them done ASAP. Don’t worry about quality. Act, don’t reflect. Momentum is everything. Don’t stop. Don’t look down. Don’t think.
Only one thing matters in this initial draft: get SOMETHING done, however flawed or imperfect. You are not allowed to judge yourself.
Stay stupid. Follow your unconventional, crazy heart. When we say “Stay Stupid,” we mean don’t self-censor, don’t indulge in self-doubt, don’t permit self-judgment.
Ideas Do Not Come Linearly.
Keep Working. momentum is everything. Keep it going.
Welcome to Hell Now you’re in the shit. These are the principles to get us moving forward
Principle Number One: There Is an Enemy
Principle Number Two: This Enemy Is Implacable
Principle Number Three: This Enemy Is Inside You
Principle Number Four: The Enemy Is Inside You, But It Is Not You
Principle Number Five: The “Real You” Must Duel the “Resistance You”
Principle Number Six: Resistance Arises Second
Resistance’s Two Tests
Test Number One “How bad do you want it?”
Test Number Two “Why do you want it?”
The only items you get to keep are love for the work, will to finish, and passion to serve the ethical, creative Muse.
The Big Crash
Everything crashes. Bank on it. It’s gonna happen. Crashes are hell, but in the end they’re good for us. A crash means we have to grow.
Our greatest fear is fear of success.
When we are advancing in our craft and evolving to a higher level—that’s when panic strikes. When we experience panic, it means that we’re about to cross a threshold.
In the belly of the beast, we remind ourselves of two axioms: The problem is not us. The problem is the problem. Work the problem. Face your fears. Confront your panics
3 END
Fear of Success. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
When we ship, we’re exposed. When we ship, we’ll be judged.
Slay that dragon once, and he will never have power over you again. You’ll know you can beat him again. That’s a game-changer. That will transform your life.
Start (Again) Before You’re Ready
Begin the next one tomorrow. Stay stupid. Trust the soup.