Do the Work, Free, and Be Ignorant

So, I recently downloaded this book recommended by Seth Godin, Do the Work by Steven Pressfield which you can get for free on the Kindle here or buy the hardcover on Amazon (still well worth it). This is the first book I've read from him, he's better known for The War of Art, but I'm working my way backwards. 

I figure it would be worthy to give you a taste of what I'm reading, since its refreshing message is seriously forgotten. Somehow we know it's true. For anybody who has ever done anything that means something to them, the message will deeply resonate.

Here's a passage from the "Orientation" chapter:

Enough for now about the antagonists arrayed against us. Let's consider the champions on our side.

1. Stupidity

2. Stubborness

3. Blind Faith

4. Passion

5. Assistance (the opposite of Resistance)

6. Friends and family

Stay stupid. The three dumbest guys I can think of: Charles Lindbergh, Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill. Why? Because any smart person who understood how impossibly arduous were the tasks they had set for themselves would have pulled the plug before he even began. 

To give you more of a feel for the book (since I'm only about 8 pages into it and already loving its truth), another point he proposes is resistance, and how as creative artists, entrepreneurs, idea enthusiasts--whatever--we can use it as a compass for what we should do. The thing we fear the most, that we resist the most, that we find excuses for, that we delay or procastinate against--that is exactly the thing we should be doing. 

Some thoughts. Hope you check it out. 

Happy Easter.