Ok, I am joining the club. This post is my homage to Steve Pressfields’s latest work, Turning Pro.
Should you read it?
Let me say this: it almost made me weep, because the timing of the book’s arrival was so important to me.
Being an entrepreneur is no easy task, this notion of having to “eat what you kill.” It has been a long time since I’ve relied on someone else to fund my paycheck, but as you know, working for yourself ain’t easy…
But I can be doing better. I can run my business better. I can write better. I can connect with people better. I can interview people on my podcasts better. I can prospect better. I can be a better salesman.
Point is, I have lots of room for improvement. But forcing myself to do the hard work to make the improvements I need and want to do isn’t easy. It is similar to an artist struggling to finish the painting, to finish writing the song, or to finish getting the book on paper.
As Pressfield has taught us, we all battle the resistance.
But here is what Turning Pro did for me:
It made me realize I am an addict.
No, I don’t do crack, but I am still an addict. And being an addict is distracting me from really focusing and doing the important work I have to do.
What are the things we are addicted to (to name but a few):
1. We are hooked on checking and receiving new email.
[update: I stopped writing this post three times when I noticed a new email arrive in my inbox, and went to check it.]
2. We are hooked on getting content shared on social media, and hooked on constantly pressing the refresh button to see new shares.
3. We are hooked on porn.
4. We are hooked on fear, which excuses us from doing hard work.
5. We are hooked on failure, which excuses us from doing hard work.
6. We are, perhaps, hooked on drugs and/or alcohol.
7. We are hooked on reading books and blogs, as in saying to yourself, “this is important, since reading brings me knowledge,” when in fact, reading excuses us from doing hard work.
8. We are hooked on media, such as film and TV, when that time could be spent doing hard work.
9. We are hooked on checking off to do lists, as in, it feels good and important to check off something from a to do list, just to say we are making progress.
10. You could even say that taking the time to write this post is an addiction, because I am hooked on putting out content like this, but it is distracting me from doing the important work on my business.
I am an addict.
For example, I will be in the middle of a task, and without even thinking, I go and do a quick scan of my various social media channels. Sometimes, I don’t even realize I am doing it.
Now being aware, it is amazing how often I do it. Identifying this, it is actually rewarding (dare I say addicting) to catch and stop myself.
Point is, we have important work to do. But we are all dealing with addictions that stop us, or at least distract us, from doing our important work.
Let me tell you right now, check out Steve Pressfield’s latest book. It will make you think about how you are conducting yourself in your own life, and will open your eyes.
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You can buy Turning Pro here (affiliate link):
Book cover photo found here.
