Do the F*cking Work

1. Just Fucking Start: Meaning is Created, Not Found

But the meaning of life isn’t discovered—it’s created.

Meaning through action. The authors challenge the notion that life's purpose is a hidden secret waiting to be uncovered. Instead, they argue that meaning is actively created through our choices and actions. It's not about passively searching for a pre-defined path, but about deliberately shaping our own.

GFDA's origin story. The creation of Good Fucking Design Advice (GFDA) itself serves as a prime example. Starting as a simple website built in their spare time during grad school, it was a way to answer students' questions with minimal effort. This small, seemingly insignificant project evolved into an international success, demonstrating how a simple idea, when acted upon, can lead to unexpected and meaningful outcomes.

Willful creation. The authors emphasize the importance of making a conscious effort to create meaning in our lives every day. This involves pursuing our passions, overcoming challenges, and contributing to something larger than ourselves. It's about taking ownership of our lives and actively shaping our own destinies.

2. Embrace Obstacles: They're Fucking Opportunities

Every set of adverse conditions in the creation of GFDA led to a broader set of skills, a redoubled self-confidence, and a more bountiful, enjoyable life.

Tenacity over talent. The authors stress that their accomplishments stemmed more from perseverance than innate talent. Obstacles, rather than being roadblocks, became catalysts for growth and innovation. Each challenge encountered in building GFDA led to the development of new skills and a stronger sense of self-belief.

The Windchimer story. The Windchimer house, initially a dilapidated mess, became a hub of creativity and collaboration. The process of renovating the house, despite the numerous challenges, fostered a strong bond between the residents and provided a space for GFDA to flourish. This transformation exemplifies how obstacles can be turned into opportunities for growth and connection.

Shift your perspective. The key takeaway is to reframe challenges as opportunities for learning and development. By embracing adversity and viewing it as a chance to grow, we can unlock our potential and create a more fulfilling life. It's about finding the silver lining in every situation and using it to propel ourselves forward.

3. Fail Often, Fail Better: It's Part of the Process

The secret is not minding that it sucks.

Failure is inevitable. The authors acknowledge that failure is an inherent part of the creative process. It's not something to be feared or avoided, but rather embraced as a valuable learning experience. The key is to not let the fear of failure paralyze us, but to use it as motivation to improve and grow.

The coffee mug fiasco. The launch of GFDA's coffee mugs serves as a humorous example of a costly failure. Due to a lack of research and planning, a significant portion of the mugs arrived broken, resulting in financial losses and angry customers. However, this experience taught the authors a valuable lesson about the importance of thorough preparation and attention to detail.

Embrace the suck. The authors encourage readers to accept that failure is going to suck, but to not let that deter them from trying new things. By reframing failure as a learning opportunity and developing resilience, we can overcome setbacks and ultimately achieve success. It's about getting comfortable with discomfort and using it to fuel our growth.

4. Don't Be a Lone Wolf: Ask for Fucking Help

Forming partnerships always makes our work better because the end result is always unpredictable—something more than we were capable of envisioning on our own.

Collaboration over control. The authors emphasize the importance of collaboration and partnership in the creative process. By opening ourselves up to the ideas and perspectives of others, we can achieve results that are far greater than what we could accomplish on our own. It's about valuing collaboration over the need for control.

The intern experience. GFDA's internship program highlights the value of seeking help and mentorship. The interns brought fresh perspectives, diverse skills, and a willingness to learn, contributing significantly to the growth of the company. The authors also learned from their interns, demonstrating the reciprocal nature of mentorship.

Openness and vulnerability. The key takeaway is to overcome the fear of vulnerability and actively seek help from others. By embracing collaboration and valuing the contributions of others, we can unlock our creative potential and achieve greater success. It's about recognizing that we don't have all the answers and being willing to learn from those around us.

5. Fuel Your Fire: Show Some Fucking Passion

Just like creativity, life isn’t a thing to be grasped and held on to. It’s a thing to be swept away in, without control or certainty.

Passion as fuel. The authors emphasize that passion is the driving force behind creativity and success. It's not enough to simply go through the motions; we must be genuinely invested in our work and approach it with enthusiasm and dedication. Passion provides the energy and motivation to overcome challenges and push ourselves to new heights.

The What If conference. Attending the What If conference in the Dominican Republic served as a turning point for the authors. The experience exposed them to a community of like-minded individuals who were passionate about their work and committed to living life to the fullest. This experience ignited a fire within them and inspired them to take greater risks.

Embrace the unknown. The key takeaway is to cultivate passion in our lives and let it guide our decisions. By pursuing our interests with enthusiasm and embracing the unknown, we can unlock our creative potential and live a more fulfilling life. It's about finding what truly excites us and allowing it to fuel our journey.

6. See It Through: Finish the Fucking Job

The greatest power in the world is the ability to let go.

Commitment to completion. The authors stress the importance of seeing projects through to completion. It's not enough to simply start something; we must be committed to finishing it, even when faced with challenges and setbacks. Finishing what we start builds confidence, strengthens our skills, and allows us to move on to new opportunities.

The decentralization experiment. The decision to work from different cities for a year tested GFDA's resilience and required a commitment to maintaining communication and collaboration. Despite the challenges, the experiment ultimately proved successful, demonstrating the importance of adaptability and perseverance.

Letting go to grow. The key takeaway is to develop the discipline to finish what we start, but also to recognize when it's time to move on. By letting go of what no longer serves us, we create space for new opportunities and experiences. It's about knowing when to hold on and when to let go, and trusting that the end of one chapter marks the beginning of another.

7. Believe in Yourself: Why the Fuck Not?

If Everybody Loves Raymond could run for nine seasons, anything is possible.

Self-belief is paramount. The authors underscore the importance of believing in oneself, even when faced with doubt and uncertainty. Self-belief is the foundation upon which all achievements are built. Without it, it's difficult to overcome challenges and pursue our goals with conviction.

Doubt as a motivator. The authors suggest that doubt can actually be a positive sign, indicating that we care about what we're doing. Rather than letting doubt paralyze us, we should use it as fuel to push ourselves harder and prove our capabilities.

Embrace possibilities. The key takeaway is to cultivate a strong sense of self-belief and to embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. By challenging our limitations and believing in our potential, we can achieve far more than we ever thought possible. It's about having the courage to pursue our dreams, even when the odds are stacked against us.

8. Stop Planning, Start Doing: Preparation Over Planning

Plans can’t account for the unexpected, and no one expects shit to go sideways (when it does, there’s usually a fan in the way).

Action over analysis. The authors advocate for taking action rather than getting bogged down in endless planning. While planning is important, it shouldn't become a substitute for actually doing the work. Over-planning can lead to paralysis and prevent us from making progress.

Embrace the unexpected. The authors acknowledge that plans rarely go according to script. Unexpected challenges and setbacks are inevitable. The key is to be adaptable and to be prepared to adjust our plans as needed.

Progress over perfection. The key takeaway is to prioritize action over analysis and to embrace the unexpected. By focusing on making progress, even if it's imperfect, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. It's about learning by doing and adapting to changing circumstances.

9. Creativity is a Work Ethic: Not a Picturesque Lifestyle

Creativity may be a lifestyle, but it isn’t picturesque.

Creativity is hard work. The authors debunk the romanticized notion of creativity as a glamorous and effortless pursuit. They emphasize that creativity is, in fact, a demanding and often grueling process that requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Beyond aesthetics. The authors challenge the superficial aspects often associated with creativity, such as trendy clothing, stylish workspaces, and inspirational quotes. They argue that true creativity lies in the substance of the work, not in the aesthetics surrounding it.

Embrace the grit. The key takeaway is to recognize that creativity is a work ethic, not a lifestyle. By embracing the challenges and putting in the hard work, we can unlock our creative potential and produce meaningful results. It's about focusing on the process, not the image.

10. Defy Convention: Be Unapologetically Yourself

There’s no room for politics in the grind. Do what’s necessary, not what’s popular.

Authenticity over conformity. The authors encourage readers to defy convention and to be unapologetically themselves. Trying to fit in or conform to expectations can stifle creativity and prevent us from expressing our unique perspectives.

Embrace your differences. The authors suggest that our differences are not disadvantages, but rather sources of strength. By embracing our unique qualities and perspectives, we can offer something that no one else can.

Do what's necessary. The key takeaway is to have the courage to be yourself and to defy convention. By embracing our authenticity and pursuing our passions with conviction, we can create work that is both meaningful and impactful. It's about doing what's necessary, not what's popular, and trusting that our unique voice will resonate with others.

Last updated: March 9, 2025