Do the Work

Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way

Unlock your full potential with insights from Do the Work by Steven Pressfield. Overcome creative barriers, conquer resistance, and find fulfillment in your work with actionable advice from this motivational guide.
Harvey Ramer
Harvey Ramer
2 min read (382 words) Subscribe Now!

Do the Work by Steven Pressfield is a motivational and practical guide to overcoming creative blocks and achieving success in any field. It focuses on the concept of resistance, which is the internal force that prevents people from taking action, pursuing their dreams, and accomplishing their goals. The book offers valuable insights and advice for those feeling unfulfilled in their work, helping them to identify and overcome the obstacles that hold them back.

“I stand in awe of anyone who hatches a dream and who shows the guts to hang tough, all alone, and see it through to reality.”

—Steven Pressfield

Three key insights and takeaways from the book are:

  1. Understand and confront resistance: Pressfield explains that resistance is an invisible, destructive force that aims to prevent us from achieving our goals. It manifests in various forms, such as procrastination, fear, and self-doubt. By recognizing and understanding resistance, we can identify its manifestations and confront it head-on. This awareness is the first step towards overcoming the barriers that keep us from reaching our full potential.
  2. Start before you’re ready: Many people wait for the perfect moment to begin their work, but Pressfield emphasizes that there is no perfect time. The best approach is to start before you feel ready and commit to taking action every day. This allows you to build momentum and make progress, even if it’s slow at first. The more you work, the more capable you become, and the more you learn. This iterative process helps you refine your skills and ideas over time.
  3. Embrace failure and iterate: Pressfield encourages readers to view failure as a natural part of the creative process. Instead of being discouraged by setbacks, embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow. Adopt a mindset of continuous improvement and iterate on your ideas and projects. This approach will help you refine your work, overcome obstacles, and ultimately achieve success.

In summary, Do the Work by Steven Pressfield is an essential read for anyone feeling unfulfilled in their work, as it provides actionable advice on overcoming resistance, starting before you’re ready, and embracing failure as a path to success. By applying these insights, readers can break through their creative barriers and unlock their full potential.

Buy This Book from Amazon

Subscribe to Today with Purpose

Sign up for our complimentary newsletter and podcast, Today with Purpose, and embark on a journey to make a meaningful impact that truly reflects your unique strengths and values.

Today with Purpose Podcast

Today with Purpose Reader Comments

A Software Engineer Gets a New Start Each Week

“Every Monday is like a mini New Year, giving you the chance to start fresh with a clean slate. That‘s why the weekly emails are a blessing. You can choose to complain and hate Mondays, or you can be among the select few who embrace a new, fresh start. Today with Purpose provides a pep talk, wise principles, and a vision that can help you see that life and work are meaningful. I encourage everyone to read it and start their week off right with a vision and principles that don‘t conform to the world, but instead seek to serve others and better yourself!”

Bailey Lipscomb

A Writer and Coach Finds Simple, Actionable Advice

“I truly enjoy receiving Harvey‘s email messages. They are easy-to-read, but packed with helpful and encouraging information. I created a separate email folder to store them just so I can refer back to them more easily. His topics are very timely and seem to address issues I am currently experiencing, like self-doubt and problems completing what I start, or they address topics that can help me personally and professionally, such as ways to provide more impact at work. I like to keep Harvey‘s messages because they provide simple, actionable steps to implement, but can lead to a significant return. Referring to the messages weeks later provides good accountability to ensure I‘m following the advice.”

Greg Gerber, Writer & Coach at Forward from 50.

A Ministry Leader Enjoys a Few Quiet Moments

“Spending a few minutes reading a message from Harvey has become something that truly has been meaningful, thoughtful, and encouraging.”

— A Local Business and Ministry Leader.

A Coach and Author Sees a Message of Hope

“The value I find from Harvey‘s messages is an acknowledgment that many people feel dissatisfied, even with seemingly successful lives. His writing is such a reflection of him. Not a ‘get happy quick’ message but a message of empathy, compassion, and hope. He walks in his readers‘ shoes towards more purpose and impact. It is not quick and easy. But very possible.”

— Melissa Bloom, Coach and Author of The Path to Joy.

Connect with FlareMark