Do the Work

by Steven Pressfield

Don’t think. Act. We can always revise and revisit once we’ve acted. But we can accomplish nothing until we act.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Begin it now.

We want to work, not prepare to work.

Better to have written a lousy ballet than to have composed no ballet at all.

Figure out where you want to go; then work backwards from there.

We can never eliminate Resistance. It will never go away. But we can outsmart it, and we can enlist allies that are as powerful as it is.

Do research early or late. Don’t stop working. Never do research in prime working time.

Don’t worry about quality. Act, don’t reflect. Momentum is everything.

Don’t stop. Don’t look down. Don’t think.

Only one thing matters in this initial draft: get SOMETHING done, however flawed or imperfect. You are not allowed to judge yourself.

Panic is good. It’s a sign that we’re growing.

Fear of success is the essence of Resistance.

Slay that dragon once, and he will never have power over you again.

Then get back to work. Begin the next one tomorrow. Stay stupid. Trust the soup. Start before you’re ready.

Procrastination is still the thief of time.