The foundations of creating creative work are outlined in Do the Work. Although it focuses primarily on the art of writing, its guidance can be applied to any creative endeavour. . a
Do the Work is a little book that illustrates the challenges of writing from start to finish. It is both instructive and motivating.
Turning Pro and The Battle of Art are more books by Steven Pressfield. The two discuss how experts and amateurs respond to hardship differently. The main takeaway from Do the Work is that problem-solving requires initiative. When starting something new, taking the initial step is frequently the most difficult but crucial factor in success.
Quit thinking and get to work
Your next creative endeavour is already sprouting or has already been planted. But, you might feel that waiting until you had more time to consider it, research it thoroughly, assess the benefits and drawbacks, and take action would be preferable. To put it another way, you feel as though you’re still on the way.
People ponder too much, and as a result, never start their thoughts. This behaviour is frequently exhibited by many people, who consequently struggle academically.
You frequently look for justifications not to take the essential action. Without taking action, nothing will happen.
Yet, you can’t just wait around for the answer to appear in front of you. You should take action and then modify your course. If you keep altering it as you go, you can get over a less-than-tidy first step.
Do you want to begin a large painting in the next 20 minutes? Start by applying the gesso as a foundation. Are you ready to begin a brand-new art journal? Start drawing or cutting out intriguing images in a notepad or magazine. Get some clay ready. It’s time to break out the fabric scraps or the oil paints. Get some paper and pencils and start sketching what’s in front of you. Just make a mess. You’ll learn the remaining details as you go.
Before you feel fully ready is when you should start. Iteratively, you should act, reflect, act, and reflect.
A Large Project Requires a Lot of Time and Work, and You’ll Encounter Opposition if You Put in More of It
Is it shocking that the majority of people choose to undertake the task they dislike during the course of their day?
Whatever Obstacle in your path may be overcome if you put the time and effort into it. Success and happiness are the benefits of pursuing one’s goals tenaciously. Your happiness relies on how hard you work.
That explains why so many of us choose careers we don’t enjoy. We don’t place a lot of importance on our occupations, so we don’t feel as much pressure or worry about failing at them. When we work on a project that interests us, we often invest more time, energy, talent, and skills.
It’s simple to accept a paycheck and quit a career that doesn’t matter to you, but it’s challenging to leave a position that means a lot to you.
Everyone Experiences Resistance, Not Just You
It’s not your fault. You cannot only attribute your lack of desire, zeal, or drive to these problems. If you have a lot of incomplete projects, nothing is wrong with you.
Although resistance affects us emotionally, it operates in a natural and impersonal manner. In essence, you are not nearly as damaged as you believe.
Its impacts are being felt by everyone. Consider all the accomplished people you know. Who do you think is the most talented individual who makes things appear so simple? Each of them also faces opposition.
Give yourself a rest and unwind. You haven’t painted in a while, but it’s not because you can’t. Instead, you’ve steered clear of it because resistance is a given.
Construct a research diet.
Nothing is more familiar than the pressure of having to write, make a video, or present. Yet it sucks to discover you have accomplished nothing once you are halfway through. Since you’ve spent so much time reading and seeing stuff about your subject, you should do well. Because you’ve read a few books and viewed a lot of videos, you believe you are productive. Your project’s completion date is drawing near. You haven’t even read the first chapter yet.
Start adding a research diet in your projects if you can relate to this.
Less movie watching when following a research diet. Less podcast listening and reading is another consequence. Start your work instead of spending all of your time researching. This will make it easier to spot the problems and misunderstandings that must be cleared up. Additionally, it enables you to accomplish something with the tools at your disposal.
Act stupid and start composing your first draught right away.
All rational reasoning originates with the ego. Original idea is inherently opposed by the logical intellect. It is best to quit thinking inside and start acting firmly. Put forth your best effort. Set your imagination free. Continue with the current task.
Write your first draught, base layers, mock-up, basic shape, and the foundation of your diary pages as soon as you can. Don’t overthink things. There is no room for your inner critic in this.
Act first, then consider your actions. You cannot think and do at the same time. You must temporarily play the part of the insane person and release him. Give your everything into it and work furiously. No matter how absurd, foolish, dubious, or incorrect it is, just write it down or sketch it. After that, you’ll have the chance to tidy it up.
You typically give in to opposition because of your ego. You’re afraid of what people would think if you follow through on your bold plans. The majority of people will believe you can’t aim high and will be disappointed if you do. You become fixated on other people’s opinions rather than appreciating your own work.
Working alone and putting your pride aside are crucial. It’s the first step towards realising your original concept, artistic vision, or creative endeavour.
Always anticipate failing
The pursuit of greatness and regular practise almost always results in some level of setback. The real world may hold a negative opinion of you if you try your best yet fail. Also, you expose oneself to criticism that might not be helpful.
Your difficulties will seem less serious if you have a job you dislike. It hurts considerably more to experience disappointments when you have poured your heart and soul into your profession, though, if you are passionate about what you do.
With each project you take on, there will be failures along the way to success. Setbacks may be unpleasant, but they are still significant. They are essential for developing oneself, being resilient, and seeing things from the appropriate angle.
You won’t be able to handle the challenges you’ll face later if you don’t deal with the problems you face now. It’s crucial to view setbacks as stepping stones on the path to achievement because of this.
You surely fear failing if you’re human. On the other hand, you must report to work each day if you expect to be taken seriously as a working professional. Also, it implies that you are always considering fresh approaches to improving yourself.
Without overcoming opposition, victory is impossible.
Even with the wind at your back, difficulties will still arise. You’ll be tempted to give up. The opposition might reassemble and attempt another assault.
It will occur to you in the middle of a project that it is too late to start and too early to see the outcome.
If you don’t put your all into it, you can’t triumph over difficulty. Working part time is ineffective for career advancement. To reach your objectives, it would be beneficial if you were committed to working full-time. It would be beneficial if you were firmly committed to achieving the highest levels of success in your chosen vocation.
Although facing truth can be difficult, resistance will inevitably exist. There will be some Resistance in everything you do, everything you produce, and every trip you take. It also loses some of its sting if we recognize we can defeat it.
Your outlook on writing and creating art is probably going to improve. When you have to make excuses, you are much more likely to see them for what they are.
You don’t procrastinate as much as you would otherwise when you are motivated to produce anything, whether it’s a fresh work of art or just the drive to be creative.
Resistance is the antithesis of assistance.
It could appear as though the Resistance is actively working against you. Fortunately, certain forces want you to achieve just as much.
It would be beneficial if you made it a regular ritual to express gratitude to those who have inspired you before you begin working. This is similar to asking the Muses for assistance in remaining motivated and focused. Expecting extraordinary effects from a simple daily routine or a few affirmations is unrealistic. Nothing can replace devotion and effort.
Resistance will continue to be fought eternally. Resistance can be reduced or even eliminated, though, with the correct assistance.
Even if you don’t feel inspired or creative every day, you still need to put some effort into it. Put forth the time, effort, and resources necessary to complete the task at hand if you want to generate high-quality work.
Assistance is still given despite resistance. You must understand that knowledge, zeal, and excitement are essential. Satisfaction is what you gain from finishing the project. The first step is far more valuable than the dread keeping you from it.
Quit acting small and start acting big
You can’t be content with doing mediocre work if you want to accomplish great things. Instead of bunting or launching a line drive for a single, you may aim to hit a home run by swinging for the fences.
Do The Work elaborates on the notion that people ought to act proactively. There is always a chance to decline it. If you don’t initially aim for the seats, you won’t ever hit a fastball into the upper deck.
You can still get the general idea of this comparison even if you don’t know anything about baseball.
Leave your fears, concerns, and any perceived limitations behind. Make this work of art the one that best represents you by putting your best foot forward, imagining the unthinkable, and so on.
Send your work without second-guessing it
Every project or work has to conclude at some point. You should avoid shipping your record, book, or other product. If you don’t get it out the door, it’s all for naught. Most of us are afraid to publish our work out of concern for feedback.
What if my novel has significant flaws? What if none of my proposals are accepted? What are your plans if this product doesn’t sell well? If you don’t ship, you won’t know.
There is no room for improvements and outcomes if you don’t ship. You are placing your pride before your creativity and labor of love by refusing to ship. Whatever the outcome, you must let it go and then either enjoy your successes or draw lessons from your failures.
Do The Work Book Review
“Do the Work” is a motivational and practical guide to help readers overcome their creative blocks and turn their ideas into reality. Written by Steven Pressfield, the book provides a step-by-step approach to help readers push through the resistance that often stands in the way of creative work.
The book is structured in three parts, with each section building upon the previous one. The first part, “What is Resistance?”, explores the concept of resistance and how it manifests in our lives. Pressfield describes resistance as the force that keeps us from doing the work we need to do, and he identifies several common forms of resistance, including procrastination, self-doubt, and fear.
The second part of the book, “Turning Pro”, offers advice on how to move beyond resistance and become a professional in your chosen field. Pressfield argues that turning pro means treating your creative work as a serious vocation, rather than just a hobby or pastime. He offers practical tips on how to adopt a professional mindset, including setting a schedule, establishing a routine, and committing to the long haul.
The final section of the book, “The Higher Realm”, takes a more spiritual turn, exploring the role that inspiration and intuition play in the creative process. Pressfield suggests that by tapping into our inner wisdom, we can connect with a higher power and unleash our full creative potential.
One of the strengths of “Do the Work” is its brevity. At just over 100 pages, the book is a quick and easy read, but it is also packed with practical advice and insights. Pressfield’s writing style is direct and accessible, and he uses examples from his own life and work to illustrate his points.
Another strength of the book is its emphasis on action. Pressfield encourages readers to stop overthinking and start doing, and he provides a clear roadmap for how to get started. He emphasizes the importance of taking small steps, staying focused, and persevering through setbacks and failures.
That being said, some readers may find the book a bit simplistic or repetitive. Pressfield’s focus on resistance and the need to overcome it can feel a bit one-note at times, and some of his advice may be familiar to readers who have already read other self-help or productivity books.
Overall, “Do the Work” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to overcome creative blocks and achieve their goals. Whether you’re a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or just someone looking to make a change in your life, the book offers practical advice and inspiration to help you get started and stay on track. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, “Do the Work” may be just the motivation you need to take that first step towards realizing your dreams.
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