Steven Pressfield's The War Of Art
The War of Art
Steven Pressfield has a colorful background. I believe that’s why I’m drawn to him and his book, The WAR of ART. He has worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout [I like that word, roustabout, reminds me of Elvis], attendant in a mental hospital, fruit-picker in Washington State, author and screenwriter.
As author he has written many fiction and non-fiction books, but the non-fiction book I want to talk about is, The War of Art. In this book Pressfield discusses the many patterns of resistance or lack of enthusiasm an ‘artist’ faces as they chase their dreams and goals.
I use the word artist to define anyone in pursuit of their life’s passion. It could be an entrepreneur, athlete, or anyone else trying to overcome hurdles, obstacles or challenges that appear to be holding them back or holding them down. …show more content…
Pressfield makes so many great points in The War of Art I encourage you to read it.
I’ve read the book multiple times and each time it has delivered a different message at different level of intensity to me. I’d like to share three of these messages with you.
The last time I read the book, right out of the gate on page 16 he asked, “Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture?” When I read that, for maybe the fourth time, I realized he was speaking directly to me on so many levels. I was a writer, who was not writing. You are reading a by-product of part of what Pressfield’s book help bring to reality.
Later in the book on the bottom of page 61 he makes a most brilliant observation. “It is commonplace among artists and children at play that they're not aware of time or solitude while they're chasing their vision. The hours fly.” When I write the day passes and the sunsets. I’ve gone from morning coffee to needing to eat dinner. “The hours
fly.”
Think back on a time when you did something that you enjoyed so much that time flied when you’re doing it. One minute it was 9AM and the next 9PM. You haven’t blinked all day. You might have even skipped a meal. But it feels as if time stood still for you. Can you recall time when that happened? That is your passion. Give it life.
Towards the end of the book on page 136 he tells us, “When we make a start. When we conceive an enterprise and commit to it in the face of our fears, something wonderful happens. A crack appears in the membrane. Like the first craze when a chick pecks at the inside of its shell.” Everything starts with a first step and then the next, and next and next. We just keep building on the next step. I dreamed for years about writing. Several things including Pressfield pushed my vision and dream into a goal. The goal was broken down into daily actionable steps with deadlines. BAM! You’re reading the results.
Trust me when I say, if a this southern girl can recreate herself and career. Chase her dreams and goals AND bring them into fruition. You can too!
Steven Pressfield has a colorful background. I believe that’s why I’m drawn to him and his book, The WAR of ART. He has worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout [I like that word, roustabout, reminds me of Elvis], attendant in a mental hospital, fruit-picker in Washington State, author and screenwriter.
As author he has written many fiction and non-fiction books, but the non-fiction book I want to talk about is, The War of Art. In this book Pressfield discusses the many patterns of resistance or lack of enthusiasm an ‘artist’ faces as they chase their dreams and goals.
I use the word artist to define anyone in pursuit of their life’s passion. It could be an entrepreneur, athlete, or anyone else trying to overcome hurdles, obstacles or challenges that appear to be holding them back or holding them down. …show more content…
Pressfield makes so many great points in The War of Art I encourage you to read it.
I’ve read the book multiple times and each time it has delivered a different message at different level of intensity to me. I’d like to share three of these messages with you.
The last time I read the book, right out of the gate on page 16 he asked, “Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture?” When I read that, for maybe the fourth time, I realized he was speaking directly to me on so many levels. I was a writer, who was not writing. You are reading a by-product of part of what Pressfield’s book help bring to reality.
Later in the book on the bottom of page 61 he makes a most brilliant observation. “It is commonplace among artists and children at play that they're not aware of time or solitude while they're chasing their vision. The hours fly.” When I write the day passes and the sunsets. I’ve gone from morning coffee to needing to eat dinner. “The hours
fly.”
Think back on a time when you did something that you enjoyed so much that time flied when you’re doing it. One minute it was 9AM and the next 9PM. You haven’t blinked all day. You might have even skipped a meal. But it feels as if time stood still for you. Can you recall time when that happened? That is your passion. Give it life.
Towards the end of the book on page 136 he tells us, “When we make a start. When we conceive an enterprise and commit to it in the face of our fears, something wonderful happens. A crack appears in the membrane. Like the first craze when a chick pecks at the inside of its shell.” Everything starts with a first step and then the next, and next and next. We just keep building on the next step. I dreamed for years about writing. Several things including Pressfield pushed my vision and dream into a goal. The goal was broken down into daily actionable steps with deadlines. BAM! You’re reading the results.
Trust me when I say, if a this southern girl can recreate herself and career. Chase her dreams and goals AND bring them into fruition. You can too!