Do the Work

1. Resistance is the enemy of creativity and success

Resistance is an active, intelligent, protean, malign force—tireless, relentless, and inextinguishable—whose sole object is to stop us from becoming our best selves and from achieving our higher goals.

Resistance defined: Resistance is the internal force that prevents us from pursuing our creative endeavors and personal growth. It manifests as fear, self-doubt, procrastination, and perfectionism. Resistance is universal, affecting everyone from novices to experts.

Overcoming Resistance: To combat Resistance, one must first recognize its existence and understand its nature. It's not a personal flaw, but a natural force to be reckoned with. By acknowledging Resistance, we can develop strategies to overcome it, such as:

• Establishing a consistent work routine
• Setting clear goals and deadlines
• Surrounding ourselves with supportive individuals
• Focusing on the process rather than the outcome

2. Act before you're ready and trust your instincts

Start before you're ready.

Embrace imperfection: The key to overcoming Resistance is to begin your work before you feel fully prepared. This approach prevents overthinking and paralysis by analysis. By starting early, you generate momentum and learn through the process of doing.

Trust your creative instincts: Rather than relying solely on rational thought, which can lead to self-doubt and procrastination, tap into your intuition and unconscious mind. This approach allows for:

• More authentic and original work
• Increased creative flow
• Reduced anxiety about the outcome
• Greater willingness to take risks and innovate

3. Simplify your concept to its core elements

Steve, God made a single sheet of yellow foolscap exactly the right length to hold the outline of an entire novel.

Distill your idea: Boil down your concept to its essential elements, focusing on the core message or story. This process helps clarify your vision and makes the project less overwhelming. Use a single page to outline your entire project, whether it's a novel, business plan, or artistic endeavor.

Three-act structure: Organize your concept into a beginning, middle, and end. This simple structure provides a framework for developing your ideas:

• Act One: Introduction and setup
• Act Two: Confrontation and development
• Act Three: Resolution and conclusion

By simplifying your concept, you can more easily identify potential issues and maintain focus throughout the creative process.

4. Maintain momentum and keep working through challenges

Keep working. Keep working. Keep working.

Establish a routine: Consistency is key to overcoming Resistance and making progress on your project. Set aside dedicated time each day to work on your craft, regardless of your mood or external circumstances.

Push through obstacles: Expect challenges and setbacks, but don't let them derail your progress. When faced with difficulties:

• Refocus on your original vision and goals
• Break the problem down into smaller, manageable tasks
• Seek input from trusted peers or mentors
• Use setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth

Remember that maintaining momentum is often more important than achieving perfection in each session.

5. Recognize and overcome fear of success

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

Understand the fear: Fear of success can be as paralyzing as fear of failure. It often stems from concerns about increased responsibility, visibility, or changes in relationships. Recognizing this fear is the first step in overcoming it.

Embrace your potential: Instead of shying away from success, embrace your capabilities and the positive impact your work can have. Strategies for overcoming fear of success include:

• Visualizing yourself succeeding and handling the consequences
• Focusing on the value your work provides to others
• Developing a support system to help you navigate success
• Reframing success as a natural progression of your efforts rather than a drastic change

6. Learn from failures and use them to improve

Crashes are hell, but in the end they're good for us.

Embrace failure: Setbacks and failures are inevitable in any creative or entrepreneurial endeavor. Rather than viewing them as personal shortcomings, see them as valuable learning experiences and opportunities for growth.

Analyze and adapt: When faced with a "crash" or significant setback:

• Step back and objectively assess what went wrong
• Identify the root causes of the problem
• Develop a plan to address the issues
• Implement changes and improvements
• Use the experience to strengthen your resolve and refine your approach

Remember that many successful individuals and projects have faced numerous failures before achieving their goals.

7. Develop the courage to finish and ship your work

It takes balls of steel to ship.

Overcome the final hurdle: Finishing and sharing your work can be the most challenging part of the creative process. It requires courage to expose yourself to potential criticism and judgment.

Strategies for shipping: To develop the courage to finish and share your work:

• Set a firm deadline and commit to it
• Seek feedback from trusted sources throughout the process
• Remind yourself of the value your work provides
• Focus on the act of completion rather than potential reactions
• Celebrate the achievement of finishing, regardless of the outcome

Remember that shipping your work is essential for growth and success. Even if the reception is not what you hoped for, the act of completing and sharing your project is a significant accomplishment and learning experience.

Last updated: January 22, 2025