Book Byte #21 "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield

Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

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?? Curious Quotes from the Author:

“Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”

“The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.”

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”

“The artist and the mother are vehicles, not originators. They don't create the new life, they only bear it. This is why birth is such a humbling experience. The new mom weeps in awe at the little miracle in her arms. She knows it came out of her but not from her, through her but not of her.”

“The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.”

“Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you're feeling massive Resistance, the good news is that it means there's tremendous love there too.”

“The more resistance you experience, the more important your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you - and the more gratification you will fell when you finally do it.”

“It's not the writing part that's hard. What's hard is sitting down to write. ”What keeps us from sitting down is Resistance.”

“Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. resistance is the enemy within.”

“The paradox seems to be, as Socrates demonstrated long ago, that the truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery. While those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them.”

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now." — W. H. Murray,”

“The best and only thing that one artist can do for another is to serve as an example and an inspiration.”

“Here's another test. Of any activity you do, ask yourself: If I were the last person on earth, would I still do it?”

“What finally convinced me to go ahead was simply that I was so unhappy not going ahead. I was developing symptoms. As soon as I sat down and began, I was okay.”

“...she (the artist, the writer) doesn't wait for inspiration, she acts in the anticipation of its apparition.”

“I'm keenly aware of the Principle of Priority, which states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what's important first.”

?? Cognition of the Book’s Big Idea:

Whether you're pursuing a creative pursuit, such as writing a novel, or moving into the business world, such as running a start-up, you'll surely come across conflicting forces that test your creativity. Overcoming these barriers is critical to achieving your lofty goals. The goal is to recognize these problems and overcome them via diligence and endurance.

Practical guidance:

Experiencing fear? You are going in the correct route!

Individuals frequently face fear before embarking on a creative venture. However, this fear should not be interpreted as a warning to give up. Instead, acknowledge that fear is a natural reaction to the thought of following your passion. Rather than quitting your efforts, see that dread as confirmation that you're on the correct track with your endeavor.

???Fixing the Tech Industry

We put a lot of creative energy into what we do everyday, but for the most part, we aren’t rewarded for these efforts. Bosses tend to like to de-risk everything, and unknown creative projects and process are scary to them. But what most leaders don’t know is that the act of creation is essential for us to feel useful and enjoy our work. Chaos can sometime bring something good into this world, or else they’ll just be another boring business swimming in mediocrity.

?? Collaborate with others with this Social Media Prompt:

When you come across a conflict in your creative efforts, how would you rationalize asking for help? Do you think having someone by your side supporting you could help overcome your fear of just trying it out?