Episode 501: Steven Pressfield
Short Summary
Tim Ferriss interviews Steven Pressfield, author and former Marine
Pressfield talks about his struggles as a writer and his concept of "resistance" as an internal force that can hold people back from achieving their goals
Pressfield discusses the importance of discipline and seeking help from mentors
He talks about the role of fear in creative work and the importance of work ethic in achieving success
Pressfield discusses the importance of having a mission or purpose in life and the role of storytelling in inspiring and motivating people
He talks about the hero's journey and finding one's unique gift, and the value of asking for help and learning from mentors.
Long Summary
Tim Ferriss interviews Steven Pressfield, a former Marine and author
Pressfield's newest book is called A Man at Arms
Pressfield has written about ancient history and his books are required reading at West Point, Annapolis, and in the Marine Corps
Pressfield talks about his experience with long-term failure as a writer before eventually achieving success
Pressfield describes living in a house in the woods for $15 a month and befriending a feral cat while he was struggling as a writer
Pressfield talks about his new book, A Man at Arms, which is about a reluctant hero in the Roman Empire and the rise of a new faith
Pressfield discusses the concept of resistance and how it can hold people back from achieving their goals
Pressfield talks about the importance of discipline and how it can help overcome resistance
Pressfield discusses the role of fear in creative work and how to overcome it
Pressfield talks about the importance of work ethic and the role it played in his own success
Pressfield talks about the importance of having a mission or purpose in life and how it can help overcome obstacles
Pressfield discusses the role of storytelling in human history and how it can be used to inspire and motivate people
Pressfield talks about the importance of mentors and how they can help guide and support people on their journey
Pressfield discusses the role of the muse in creative work and how to find inspiration.
Tim Ferriss interviews Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art and A Man At Arms
Pressfield talks about his failures as a writer and his struggles with addiction and self-sabotage
Pressfield discusses the importance of thinking of oneself as a professional and not being on a personal journey while at work
Pressfield shares his belief that people will do their best work in their mid-50s, due to their increased resilience and capacity to learn from their mistakes
Pressfield talks about the importance of having an "inner board of directors" to help guide decision-making and the importance of writing every day
Pressfield discusses the concept of "resistance" and how it can hold people back from achieving their goals
Pressfield talks about the value of asking for help and learning from mentors
Pressfield shares his experience writing for the military and how it has informed his approach to storytelling and character development.
Steven Pressfield is a former Marine and graduate of Duke University
He became an overnight success as a writer after 30 years of failure
He talks about "resistance," the interior force of self-sabotage that can hold people back from achieving their creative goals
His novels of the ancient world are required reading at West Point, Annapolis, and in the Marine Corps
His newest book is called "A Man At Arms"
Pressfield talks about his experiences with resistance in his own life and career
He also talks about the hero's journey and how it relates to his own life and finding his creative gift
He discusses the importance of finding one's unique gift and bringing it to the world
Pressfield talks about the concept of the hero's journey and refusal of the call, and how it can play a role in people's lives
He also discusses the importance of finding mentors and the impact they can have on one's life and career.
The speaker is an author who experienced a series of setbacks and failures before eventually finding success as a writer.
He learned from his mentor, Hugh Reeves, the importance of being professional and following through on his responsibilities.
The speaker believes that once a person completes their hero's journey, their artist's journey begins.
The speaker's first major book was published due to a series of coincidences and good luck after years of struggle.
The speaker subscribes to the little successes approach, which involves building momentum through a series of small tasks and activities before starting a creative project.
The speaker suggests setting goals, breaking them down into small steps, and focusing on the present moment to build momentum and achieve success.
Tim Ferriss and Steven Pressfield discuss the hero's journey, which is a journey of self-discovery that includes various stages such as the ordinary world, the call to adventure, and the return home.
The hero's journey can be applied to many aspects of life, including one's career or art.
Pressfield believes that the hero's journey leads to the artist's journey, which is the process of finding and sharing one's gift with the world.
Pressfield discusses the importance of building momentum and the concept of "little successes," which involves completing small tasks to build up to a larger goal.
Pressfield talks about the importance of editing and how it can help writers become their own editor and improve their work.
Pressfield also discusses the idea of the muse and how it can inspire and guide the creative process.
Pressfield talks about the importance of finding one's purpose and how it can provide motivation and direction in life.
Pressfield shares his own journey as a writer and how he has learned to overcome resistance and self-doubt.
The speaker discusses the concept of "shadow careers", where people engage in activities that mimic their dream careers but have none of the potential benefits and a lot of risk
The speaker suggests that to discover one's true passion, they should engage in therapy or introspection and then figure out the steps to pursue that passion
The speaker advises to be aware of self-sabotaging tendencies and to build up professional habits in order to pursue the dream career
The speaker mentions the concept of "fear-setting", or meditating on the worst case scenario in order to make the potential threats seem less daunting
The speaker talks about his new book, A Man at Arms, which is about a recurring character in his historical fiction series who is a gunslinger in the ancient world
Tim Ferriss and Steven Pressfield discuss the concept of yetzer hara, which is a force that stops people from achieving their goals or reaching their full potential.
It is described as a negative force of self-sabotage that exists in the world and can be seen as a flaw in the universe.
Pressfield advises writers to "go big" and take risks in their writing, as this is often favored by the muse or unconscious.
Pressfield also advises against excessive preparation or education before beginning to write fiction, and suggests starting with page one and seeing where the story takes you.
Pressfield discusses the importance of structure in storytelling, and recommends learning about the conventions and structures of different genres.
Pressfield talks about the process of writing and editing his own work, and how he approaches his writing like an editor.
Tim Ferriss discusses his experience with self-doubt and feeling like his best work is behind him.
Pressfield advises to "take action" and to be aware of the tendency to self-sabotage and the mental self-conversations that try to talk oneself out of pursuing one's goals.
Pressfield talks about his new book, A Man at Arms, and its genesis story.
Pressfield and Ferriss discuss the importance of having a daily writing routine and the benefits of writing every day.
Pressfield discusses the concept of "the void" in writing and how it can be a source of inspiration and creativity.