Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles

by Tim Grahl, Shawn Coyne (Editor)

A Deeply Personal Field Guide to Defeating Your Own Worst Enemy. When you dream, you envision a magical future. You have heroically slayed the dragons and unlocked the creativity and genius buried deep inside. But how do you actually get there? You can analyze the myths of visionary creators–artists, writers, musicians, software developers, etc that have accomplished the impossible. You’ll read about how they went for it, refused to quit, and would not be denied. But exactly how these successful creators went from being fearful dreamers to accomplished artists proves elusive. They seem to have secret sauce inside that you just don’t possess. Running Down a Dream unflinchingly bares the naked truth behind all creations and shares the practical to-do list to take you from here to there. The good news? You don’t have to be an Austen or a Michelangelo or an Oprah to create a work of art. The bad news? There is no glossing over the pain, embarrassment, and financial terror necessary to contend with on your journey to mission accomplished. More good news? What lies ahead for you is the realization of your heroic self. The run is worth it in ways you can’t yet imagine.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Business, Productivity, Psychology

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2018

Reviews

[Harley Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Authentic, Open & Raw Account of Grahl's Creative Journey, Brilliantly Painted in Words

The road to every creative's journey will differ and unless you are one of the outliers, chances are there will be wrong turns, speed bumps and a few potholes along that path.

Tim Grahl bravely and honestly takes us along on his journey and shares his struggles and triumphs (even when some of them are temporary or short-lived).

Running Down A Dream is an authentic, open and raw account of his journey, brilliantly painted in words. His emotions reach out and grab you right in those tender, creative parts and often, you find yourself nodding as you relate to his fears and struggles and his words remind you that you're not alone.

And while Running Down A Dream is not a book of "how to" or "how not to," Tim does share systems he created and tip/tools he employs to stay on track and work through struggles as they arise or threaten to hold him back (including roadblocks that make diving into the Pit of Despair head-first a welcome reprieve).

Tim also reminds us that you can't truly experience that journey if you never face (and own) the fear, worry and anxiety and take that first step. Even if you stumble off the starting block, you can use the experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. And take the next step. And the next. Eventually, you will come to realize that your journey has no "real" finish line—it's all a pathway to discovery.

As Tim so eloquently states it, "There is no success or failure. There is nothing to fix. There is only the perfect me, my dream, and the joy of running it down."

And that's something all creatives can embrace.

If you're serious about your creative endeavor, no matter where you are on the path, Running Down A Dream is a must-read and a resource to revisit whenever you find yourself tripping along the pathway, battling Resistance or staring into that abominable Pit of Despair.

[Annie Oortman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that anyone with a dream MUST read. Written in a casual manner, Grahl ensures you feel all the emotions he felt as he navigated the ups and downs of writing a book and starting a creative movement.

FYI: This not a business book. This is an emotions book. If you've ever felt you didn't have what it takes to achieve you dream or have tried and failed or have everyone in your world telling you not to take a leap of faith, this is the book you MUST read.

Grahl takes you step by step through his adventure, showing you what he did (or didn't) to achieve (as well as almost derail) his dream. His honesty regarding his failures is heartwarming and relatable.

Thank you, Mr. Grahl, for not writing another business book that's all sunshine and roses. Thanks for bring reality to the forefront while at the same time showing the reader what he/she can do while running down a dream.

[Marty Twelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read! I've been following Tim Grahl on the Story Grid Podcast for years. This is a raw and real memoir for any aspiring creative.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got halfway through this and stalled out. It was difficult to read about Tim and how he’d finally get his act together and then still be miserable. For a visual artist this book did not contain a ton of useful, applicable information. Plus, Tim seemed to be a mess most of the time (albeit honest) and that didn’t provide a huge incentive to take advice from him. There were nuggets of interesting and insightful advice, but the same sort of useful stuff could be found in other books (like Steven Pressfield’s War of Art, or Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic) that did not deliver their information in a constant self referential manner that comes across as narcissistic (then I did this, then I did that, then I was still a mess, then I hated myself ...). Artists of all types need hope, and this wasn’t the book that delivered it, in my opinion. Disclaimer: I did finish the book, it just took a while and was a forced effort.

[Lisa Hodorovych · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so raw. As I read it I thought I was reading my life story; it was truly scary to see how similar our paths were. However, the advice he gives throughout the book gives you a nice kick in the butt to keep on "running down your dream." I love that he references Steven Pressfield's book "The War of Art" (which I read the previous year) throughout to talk about "Resistance." Between this book and Pressfield's book, it's very apparent that Resistance is a legitimate character in everyone's life. It is the antagonist trying to bring us down. However both books (especially Tim Grahl's book) show us how we can be the strong protagonist that rises above. I will always recommend anything Tim Grahl writes as he gives great advice on how to market your book(s), how to do a successful book launch, and how to overcome adversity.

[Colby Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hugely personal and super vulnerable read, because we're looking deeply into Grahl's flaws, and that made me uncomfortable. But that's really MY problem, not Grahl's, and his perspective is MUCH NEEDED in our world of superficiality. He takes a huge and brave leap off the cliff of "fake it til you make it" and shows us what it's like to dash oneself on the jagged rocks of reality. Again, and again, and again. And I admire the fuck out of him for that. I did pick up some very actionable tips from this book, but this read is mainly to show you that it's okay to fuck up while chasing down your dream. And I really love that about this work. #freetofuckup

[Basmah AlMeshari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like having a long casual conversation with someone with the same page as me.
Such a quick and inspiring read that reminds me that in life there’s no finish line on running down a dream

[Chris Boutté · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book immediately after finishing Tim’s other book, Your First 1000 Copies, and this book is SO good. It’s been a long time since I’ve related to a book so much. In this short book, it’s a memoir of Tim’s time going from leaving his job to be an entrepreneur and all of the internal struggles he went through. In the book, he’s completely vulnerable and discusses all of the difficult times where he doubted himself and would break down. He also talks about the reality of money struggles throughout the process and where he screwed up and could have been a lot smarter. And after all of these difficulties and finally overcoming different obstacles, he’s still not happy, and that’s when he dives into his experience with mental illness.

I really recommend this book, and I’ll probably read it again when I need a little boost of motivation. I think the only thing that’s lacking in this book is Tim discussing how he landed such big authors as clients like Daniel Pink and others. I assume these clients weren’t acquired due to some sort of insane work ethic and perseverance, or I would think he’d discuss it, which leads me to believe he had a few advantages that may have been left out. But, in any case, there’s plenty in this book to inspire you if you can relate to what he went through.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of non-fiction book I like reading. First, it's an interesting read by a knowledgeable person. The chapters are short and clear. Finally, the author recaps all the lessons at the end to reinforce what you just learned. Tim was very honest and open above his struggles and shows you step by step how he got out of them. I recommend this book.

[Michael Louis Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Tim Grahl's Running Down a Dream highly inspirational. It was honest, sincere, and speaks to your heart.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fortune, fame or freedom are the only things that will drive you. Pick one. Tim chose freedom but he struggled with fear.

I TOLD FEAR TO STICK TO THE BACKSEAT, BUT AS SOON AS I PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY IT LUNGED FOR THE WHEEL.
* * *
Fear, one of Resistance’s most effective emissaries, had me in its clutches. It had broken me down and forced me to waste weeks of writing time. I’m obviously no Elizabeth Gilbert. (Kindle Locations 697-703).

Gah. Me too.

I realized that every successful person has a trail of failures behind them. And not small, “oh that didn’t work, but then I found the thing that did!” failures. No. They have soul-crushing, years wasted, I-will-never-recover failures. (Kindle Locations 1349-1351).

And of course they only tell the straight road to success story. We’ve all heard of ‘overnight successes’ who’ve been in the industry for a decade. It’s not deliberate; people just want to skip the bad parts. Or they forget.
But learning how people failed is also pretty important.

What if my book didn’t even sell a thousand copies? I’d have to retitle the book Your First 183 Copies. (Kindle Locations 1629-1630).

Bwahaha.
Tim lists a lot of tools and strategies here, and like all of these things, results will vary. He’s very honest here, brutally so, detailing moments of great personal shame.
I have this in both ebook and audio. But having listened to Tim for years in various podcasts, I think audio works best.
4 stars

[#AskMissPatience · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running Down a Dream is very relatable to the human experience as a writer working toward publication. Everything from how we feel to road blocks that can sometimes be difficult to identify.

Several points stand out:

Realities (there’s definitely more than one) of failure that even the most successful of author’s likely suffer through.

Realistic time frame of years outlines the distance we travel to get from start to potential success.

We all deal with an inner dialog. Areas like rejection, distraction, confidence and more can make finishing tough sometimes. You are NOT alone in this.

There’s a lot of other meat to digest. You’ll have to read to relate.

One thing I appreciate Tim does is give examples how to improve something he mentions is a struggle for him or another author. He includes humility becoming a valuable resource to improvement and why.

Super easy quick listen on audible. Definitely plan to read this again this year. Considering I’ve been suffering some of the challenges felt like I was listening to someone who understands me. I’m now able to use some of the suggestions to overcome what my pain points have been.

Liked this so much I found another book he wrote mentioned in this one, Your First 1,000 Copies. After reading goodread reviews I believe it’ll benefit me via examples.

Overall recommend reading more than once. Like the author’s style. My first time consuming his content. Nice work 😁

[Amphibian Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t like giving out five-star ratings if you get one, you’ve earned it. But there was no less than two moments pre-chapter that I felt like Tim was talking about me. But he didn’t just leave me wondering why I can’t make shit work while he did, he gave me the actual steps to dig myself out of the hole (or start chipping away at the plaster).

Seeing someone I like, admire, and look up to going through the same things I am was more than inspiring. Before I started reading this book I was running on empty. I was working hard and seeing little to no results. Short term bumps and small wins. I was trained by Tim for crying out loud, why couldn’t I do this? The answer was in the book. I’m new. I’m still working on my 10k hours and I needed a more experimental mindset. Not just when I’m launching books and trying to help authors but in everything I do.

This book is the toolbox, filled with all the tools, you need to make your creative journey a little easier. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still going to be an uphill battle in ice, wind, and snow but this book gives you the ice pick and those claw things for your boots, a nice winter jacket and a little food for your soul along the way.

I highly recommend for anyone embarking on a creative journey or if you’re in about year four or five and wondering if things will ever work out.

*Originally reviewed on amphibianpressbooks.com

[Alejandro Sanoja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it means to pursue your creative dreams.

It's as if "The War of Art" and "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" had a "book baby".

You'll get the real behind-the-scenes of the ups and downs that Tim faced as he decided to go after the dream of embracing his creativity as the source of energy for his professional and personal life.

If you are a type-A person who's having trouble embracing your creativity, this is the book for you.

Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 5/5
Mindset: 4/5

Some of My Highlights:

"The only thing that matters is that you keep going."

"Constantly trimming away inefficiencies in the way you work is a powerful tool. What's even more powerful is that very few people have the discipline to do it."

"I just dispassionately went through each step of the experimental method."

"Second, I started constantly reminding myself that I was working on an experiment. If it failed, that didn't make me a failure, it made the experiment a failure."

"It allowed me to look at successful people, not with envy, but with an understanding that they were telling me a highly edited version of their story for both our goods."

[Irene Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the author offered a reading copy of this new book, I jumped on the opportunity. Here's what I thought:

If you are struggling along the twisted pathways of creativity and entrepreneurship, getting lost, persevering in the hope of manifesting your dreams, and despite everything, still finding that well ... you're just not making any progress, this little book will give you lots of ideas and an extra big dose of unvarnished truth.

The author shares his own experiences of "one-step-forward, two-steps-back", painful failures, self-sabotage and doubt, to expose the fallacy of "instant success" that pervades our society. The truth is that to manifest a dream you need more than just a great idea; you also need great tools, as well as the courage to face and conquer some of the biggest obstacles of all, the obstacles that lie within.

This little book offers a deeper look into the real challenges that confront creatives, the failures behind their success, and the growth that's possible with diligence, tools, heart, and courage. (There's even a terrific idea for introverts who hate using the phone!) All in all, a useful book.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running Down a Dream is written for people chasing a creative goal, but I think the principles and the personal story would appeal to people with a broader range of ambitions at different places in their careers and life. The book goes through the author's struggles in following his dream, it doesn't gloss over the difficult times and focus only on the positives. It's nice to read something real but ultimately positive as he did overcome these struggles in the end.

'That terror never goes away because we don’t know what’s in the darkness. And our minds are experts at fantasizing about bad things far better than they are fantasizing about good things that will happen. No matter how long any of us has been creating and writing, our next project involves us walking to the edge of what we’ve known and seen before and taking another big step into the darkness, into a place we’ve never been.'

Throughout the book Tim describes the coping mechanisms and systems which helped him through his early progress, and still uses today. These are practical tips, and I expect most people will find several of them helpful. The advice is dotted through the book alongside his personal journey and it's helpful to read some context alongside the advice and see in practice how it was helpful for him. The end of the book lists out each of these pieces of advice with further explanations, which is really useful for quick reference and to reinstate the methods worth trying.

It's not so much a how to or self help book, but personally I found it helpful, feel positive having read it, and it is a quick read that applies to a wide range of crafts. I recommend it as supplemental reading alongside books written for specific crafts (art/writing/etc.).

[Danielle Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a student of Tim’s for a few years now. The first time I heard him say his mission is to be relentlessly helpful, I was hooked. His course, Launch a Best Seller, helped me launch my book and sell over 3 thousand copies so far. Not bad for a first time self published author. Tim’s new book is exactly what I needed to read at this point in my life and career. It’s honest, thoughtful, and well written. But the best thing about this book is it’s REAL!!! I found myself nodding along seeing myself in his story and when he would introduce a new tool he used to help him, I was whispering the word brilliant out loud. The appendix was a great touch and I plan on implementing all the tools he suggests because I know first hand Tim’s advice works! Buy this book, read it all the way through, then get to work. With Tim’s help our dreams really can come true.

[Jeff Elkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this work, Grahl describes his journey of self-discovery. Along the way, he discovers productivity, his voice as a writer, and a deeper understanding of self. While I struggled to relate to Grahl's experience with procrastination, fear, and self-loathing, and I didn't love the philosophical conclusion he found (a celebration and new focus on his inner self), the tools he presents for creatives throughout the work are fantastic. This is a book creatives should read and wrestle with. It's wonderfully written and simple to digest. Grahl's personal stories flow and carry enough tension to keep you engaged. The book is short. It took me a few days to work through. It is a nice companion to Pressfield's War of Art.

[Valerie Ihsan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every morning, as part of my start-the-day routine, I read in a business or inspirational book during breakfast. Late last week, I started this one, which had both in it--inspiration and business tips. I had heard Tim speak on The Creative Penn podcast last Monday and purchased this book after listening to the interview. This morning, I finished it. The whole book. I didn't do what I'd set out to do; I read instead. I really needed to hear what Tim said and I couldn't put it down. I knew it was the work I had to do today.

If you need some inspiration to muck through the madness, to find out what is stopping you from completing your goals and reaching for your dreams, read this book. It was powerful, raw, and poignant--and educational.

I highly recommend.

[Ronel Janse van Vuuren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very emotionally raw look at the author’s life as he figured out what it meant to be truly successful – and mentally healthy.

There are nuggets of truth (everyone lies) and wisdom (take the direct route) that really helps – in the sense that this is a self-help book.

A couple of typos and missing words irked me, but that happens. The cover makes sense in terms of it’s all a marathon – a theme in this book.

The author talks a lot about how fear (and its master Resistance) is the enemy that stands in the way of getting anything done. There’s also a lot of “get out of your head and do the work” advice.

For the most part I’ll recommend this to authors: if you liked “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert, you should read this.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed the podcast where the Author discussed the writing process for the book, and was looking forward to reading the final version.
I appreciate his honesty very much, it’s so refreshing to read the whole unedited journey of the creation of an art piece, being it a painting, song or book. The struggle is real, lying about it doesn’t takes us anywhere new.
On a side note, It was also my first audiobook. Listening to the authors voice reading his own book added a lot to the experience. Recommended.

[Julie Schooler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love memoir and I love self-help books and this was a perfect mashup of the two. I have never read anything quite like it. Especially relevant for authors and creatives, this book helped me discover what was holding me back. Although it is primarily the author's story, it spoke to me directly and deeply. At first, I found the short 'chapters' disconcerting but then I found it made reading the book easier. I highly, highly recommend this book, especially if you are feeling stuck or unfulfilled in any area of your life. Thank you Tim for writing this book, it really is extraordinary.

[Julie Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and inspiring read. A highly personal story of the other side of seeming-success, and a road to a deeper kind of success. The point-by-point summary at the end is particularly useful, after you’ve read the book and want to remember what you learned.
There’s nothing earth-shatteringly new in here, but it’s a good tool in the Steven Pressfield model, to remind yourself to keep on keeping on.

[Alexander Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book.

It's more of a memoir, but any neurotic creator could get a great deal out of Tim Grahl's words.

When he describes the challenges his clients and others have faced, you'll understand there is nothing wrong with you.

When he discusses some of the philosophical realizations he made, they'll punch you in the face.

Highly recommended for anyone who creates anything for a living.

[Emily Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest, approachable read. This is a book I can't wait to share with fellow entrepreneurs who are stuck in plaster and don't know there's gold inside. This book is full of practical tips, vulnerable and relatable stories, and motivation. Thank you for your work on bringing this book to life, Tim!

[David Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Steven Pressfield's work, you'll love this book. It's an honest look at what self-employment is really like and had great advice and inspiration for those of us who work for ourselves. I've known of Tim's book marketing work for years and have his last book for authors, You're First 1000 Copies. That's a good book and worth getting if you're an author, but this is a great book!

[Kent White · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much of my own story is in these pages. I am not as far along the path as Tim, but I aspire to getting past my own Resistance through many of the techniques he shared. Great book to re-read and more useful to me than most of Steven Pressfield's works even though he is also inspiring. I am especially grateful for the PDF that came with the audiobook, detailing out the practices he recommends.

[Will Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't finish

I feel bad writing this because I'm pretty fair. This book is laid out in bite size chunks this great. However three is much to be desired when it comes to some of the language. Love the rawness but I hate that it is laced with non productive profanity. I had my heart on learning on how to chase a dream. Instead I was distracted

[Ranch_Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read super encouraging book

Tim wrote an easy to read pager turning book full of legitimate insight. I teach, develop and train leaders, and wish I had this tool in my hands a decade ago, it would have saved me and countless others a lot of pain.

And don’t skip the executive summary at the end, that alone is worth the cover price.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite bit about this book is its readability. The writing is clear. The formatting makes each thought and message crystal clear.
The story describes one person’s journey from serious doubt to acceptance and success.
For me, the message didn’t resonate in a personal way, though I can appreciate the vulnerabilities displayed.