Steven Pressfield

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Creative Problem Solving Through Networks

  Productivity

  When formal systems fail or cause delays, use personal networks and creative thinking to find shortcuts that deliver immediate results.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Weekend Mashup—August 21 To 23, 2009  (opens in a new tab)

• Surrender Control For Breakthroughs

  Creativity

  True breakthroughs happen when an individual exhausts their ego and stops trying to force a specific outcome.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The artist learns that panic strikes at that point in a project when a creative breakthrough is imminent. Panic is Resistance pulling out the stops to keep us from ascending to the next level.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Show Up for Your Part

  Productivity

  Focus on showing up and doing the work regardless of whether inspiration or brilliance follows, as that is the only part you control.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Elizabeth Gilberts Ted Talk, 2020  (opens in a new tab)

• Think in Terms of Careers

  Strategy

  Entrepreneurs and creators should look past their current project and envision a long-term body of work spanning decades.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The goddess does not like it when we sell ourselves and our gifts short. Can you blame her? She's the one giving us those gifts.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Success is not a formula

  Strategy

  Following a roadmap or a set of steps does not guarantee a bestseller or a million-dollar business because timing and external forces play a huge role.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source More Iron Filings, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Focus on labor over externals

  Focus

  True ambition is about the work and the effort to excel, not necessarily the pursuit of wealth or fame, which are merely external fruits.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Writing Wednesdays: Ambition, 2010  (opens in a new tab)

• Study vivid and immediate communication

  Writing

  Analyze examples of riveting prose to learn how to convey action and emotion without unnecessary filler.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I used to copy these two paragraphs over and over on my ancient Smith-Corona, trying to teach myself the rhythm and punch of the thing.”

    “I cut it out and saved it as an example of vivid, immediate, riveting prose.”

• Embrace the Struggle Without Pity

  Resilience

  Success requires being ruthless with oneself, attacking the art skillfully without wasting energy on self-pity during difficult periods.

  Supporting quotes

  • “When you're free, you can start getting good at what you do. You have to make the choice to be ruthlessly devoted to your work.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Adopt a Professional Practice

  Mindset

  Treat work as a lifelong ritual engaged in every day for its own sake, rather than a series of disconnected tasks.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Having A Practice, 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Embrace the Byproducts of Failure

  Resilience

  Even if a new pitch or project fails, the process often generates unexpected opportunities and connections that lead to future success.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source What I Learned In The Ad Biz Part Three, 2012  (opens in a new tab)

• Practice Quiet Altruism

  Brand

  Brands should help others because it is the right thing to do, not to gain publicity or media coverage.

  Supporting quotes

  • “There's a special respect given to those willing to help without guaranteed recognition in return.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Eliminate Amateur Friction

  Writing

  Ensure the opening is flawless because small errors signal lack of professionalism and cause immediate rejection.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The First Page 2, 2019  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Practicality Over Pedigree

  Hiring

  When building a team for a difficult mission, look for people who have practical experience solving real-world problems rather than those with elite credentials.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The ideal volunteer to face the loneliness and isolation of the desert was a working man, preferably a husband and father.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Humor as a leadership tool

  Leadership

  Using wit in high-stakes situations can break individual paralysis and bind a team together through shared perspective.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Warrior Episode Ten, 2020  (opens in a new tab)

• Overcome the Refusal of Call

  Resilience

  Resistance often manifests as staying in a comfortable, familiar environment instead of pursuing a higher destiny.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Good Will Hunting And The Artists Journey, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Launch with a small circle

  Product

  Before a public launch, test the product with a trusted group of friends to get fresh eyes and catch technical glitches.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source A Ride On The Wild Side, 2012  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Redundant Backups

  Risk

  A creator should use cloud storage and physical backups every night to prevent the loss of expensive or irreplaceable field research.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I used it every day and it was a joy to work with.”

    “I knew I was going to be doing a ton of interviewing, so I wanted something pro-level for sound quality, reliability and ease of use.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Test Gear Before Critical Use

  Learning

  Avoid relying on untested technology or systems that have failed in the past during critical work phases.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I used it every day and it was a joy to work with.”

    “I knew I was going to be doing a ton of interviewing, so I wanted something pro-level for sound quality, reliability and ease of use.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Simplify the Core Spine

  Focus

  A project's foundation should be a simple, strong narrative arc that answers whether the idea has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

  Supporting quotes

  • “What narrative architecture supports our tale from beginning to end?" For our purposes now [pre-pre-first draft], this doesn't have to be much. It can be as simple as this: Ahab sets out after Moby Dick.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Connect Dots Through Exposure

  Finding ideas

  Creative configurations are found by paying constant attention to what works in the world and experimenting with those observations.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Brian Wilson Warren Buffett Albert Einstein Ruth Stone, 2019  (opens in a new tab)