Steven Pressfield on Overcoming Resistance and the Value of Discipline

On this episode of the Daily Stoic Podcast Ryan Holiday talks to author Steven Pressfield about his new book Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants To Be (www.thepaintedporch.com/produ..., how to do good work consistently, the importance of discipline, and more.
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Steven Pressfield wrote for 27 years before he got his first novel published. During that time he worked 21 different jobs in eleven states. Steven taught school, drove tractor-trailers, worked in advertising and as a screenwriter in Hollywood. He worked on offshore oil rigs, and picked fruit as a migrant worker. His books include The War of Art (www.thepaintedporch.com/produ...) and Gates of Fire (www.thepaintedporch.com/produ....
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📕 Ryan Holiday's new book "Discipline Is Destiny" is out now! We’ve extended the pre-order bonuses for the next week-among them is a signed and numbered page from the original manuscript of the book. You can learn more about those and how to receive them over at dailystoic.com/preorder.
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Music:
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[@moeed789]

Omg a podcast recording in natural light outside and some nature sounds is so refreshing

[@rosaritamaria4414]

Steven Pressfield is my HERO! Thank you for posting this! His two books “The War of Art” and “Do the Work” are how I wrote four books while working full time. Love this man! ❤️❤️❤️

[@truthseeker803]

Could you please share with us which points of his book had the most impact on your performance? Thanks in advance

[@TheGosslings]

Steve is such a class act. Full of wisdom, humility, humor and a kind heart. Everyone should check out his works, whether it be his motivational stuff or his fiction. You will be revitalized, like finding an oasis in the desert.

[@peznino1]

Ryan is a class act. He embodies an awful lot of what he teaches. I love how respectful he was in this conversation.

[@w0nnafight]

why would he be disrespectful?

[@tmikeporter]

This was huge for me...watching and listening. When I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer almost 4 years ago, I picked up my draft memoir and began to rewrite it. I wanted to tell my story for my family I'd leave behind. After holding back the cancer, I set it aside and instead focusing on my watercolor painting with a passion. Now that the cancer is back on my liver, I will reapply myself to the writing task. Thanks so much, Ryan. I've also bought your Discipline book for all my grandchildren. Keep it up, Pal.

[@mmendi1114]

hope you get better

[@venkatc9033]

Hope you get better sir. And all the very best in your writing pursuit. From India.

[@GrowthMindsetChannel]

"Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but nonetheless doing it like you love it" ~ Mike Tyson 💪🏻🚀

[@jewellmehedi3625]

I am stealing it and making it mine!!!!

[@wibblegorm]

Nah that's called "masochism".

[@lizardspawnofdeath]

Does Mike include raping women in that I wonder?

[@ericdraven3654]

This man, Steven, looks like such a nice guy.

[@Ruprecttt]

I wish this was 3 hours long. Amazing podcast!

[@petersolberg1894]

It so totally makes sense that you are talking to this guy. I really admire him and yourself. One thing I have seen in common amongst successful people is that they look at failure simply as information. They don't react emotionally to failure but rather dispassionately. They say "Those are not the results I desired so let's try this" and they do that until they get the results they want.

[@rockannie]

maybe a little of it is the chill porch vibe, but you two have such a relaxed, tuned in to each other/the ideas you bat around, vibe, like when folks really know and get one another and are a lot alike. it's like a familial thing. congrats on a great program, and thank you.

[@aaronwimberleymbamsf5776]

love it- I had a soccer coach who used to say "leave it all on the field". I never understood it until recently, but to me it means you do as much as good as possible, while the game is going on.

[@JonSolo]

I just started re-reading The War of Art after having not opened it in a few years, so this talk couldn’t have been more perfect timing! Really enjoyed this. 💪🏼

[@TheGosslings]

Love this conversation so much. I have been so busy with working multiple jobs lately, that I have neglected my writing. As a lifelong fan of Steve's (and, I'm proud to say, a friend as well), listening to you guys talk about discipline and writing and reading has reset my compass and encouraged me. Thank you for this amazing interview. We have a great time with "Uncle Steve" on the Gosslings but this interview is beautifully helpful. Kudos to Daily Stoic!

[@legendhcs9677]

Daily Stoic videos always make me feel more at peace

[@catsteinhilb2880]

I’m these two are kismet souls. I’m not sure what I loved more, the content or the relationship. Steven Pressfield does not talk enough in the world

[@growlandroll]

This was beautiful to watch and reflect upon. Thank you so much Ryan and Steven!

[@HauntedByHeroesX]

Great talk as always. Ryan asked thought provoking questions. I've always enjoyed listening to Stevens passions for writing, his creative process, and when he speaks on his craft of writing. He is always so passionate and gets excited. It really is inspiring, too know your true purpose in life, it shines through him.

[@cherrlyn381]

Wow. SO helpful. Thank you!

[@Tobias_Edwards]

aaahhh Pressfield. The War of Art changed my life. Can't wait to listen to this.

[@yorkshireaquatics9537]

OMG like you are just sat chatting with Steven Pressfield! Such an inspirational guy I used to stay up at night with a torch 🔦 reading his works like the Hot Gates was such an inspiration growing up and knowing what it meant to honour your country or way of being. What an incredible talk between two incredible people. Thank you for transforming lives through the wealth of the spread of knowledge 🙏

[@Electronicsflippa]

If I had to read every book I've downloaded in audioform I would've only been able to read a few of them. For me audiobooks are very valuable and practical. I can download the information and listen to them throughout my day. I'm very handy so I use my free time to do things around the house and to work on my cars all while listening to my audiobooks.

[@drewa1999]

Definitely awesome chat! Though I do think it is important to temper "always showing up" with some off time/relaxing to avoid burnout.

[@NataliaDiazJackson]

Not everybody laughs. Ethnic people around the world are still very much in touch with the dreamtime youre speaking of.

[@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor]

Thank you both. Carry on!

[@akbarraza1171]

This is such an amazing conversation! loved the part on discipline and writing challenges! Keep up the great work, Ryan! You inspire me to READ!

[@amaurisantos798]

That talk about discipline was exactly what I need. Is time to me get discipline and move towards what the second dimension want from me in this time life

[@amaurisantos798]

Do you have a email, I have something that you May be interested about it sr

[@R3lik5]

@@amaurisantos798 that’s a bot dude. No name or checkmark

[@durianwalker]

4th hour is the new goal

[@racuntiktokers]

Awesome 💯 *I totally agree with your video, thank you for presenting it so well 🙏*

[@garagawz]

The best daily stoic 🤗 thanks bro

[@MosesRabuka]

I don’t wanna do anything that somebody else can do, I wanna do only those things that I can do

[@rizab.9130]

Brilliant! love you both

[@duarteestelita8938]

You closed the conversation and i was like.. : _ oh.. is that 1hr, already?! I wish you had done twice the length.. Thanks so much for this ;) , To both!

[@GetUnlabeled]

Discipline is what I am currently chasing

[@diegonayalazo]

Thanks for sharing

[@ericdraven3654]

I recently read The war of art. Great stuff. Regards from Spain

[@Clownlife432]

18:27 this is a principle in economics called comparative advantage. Thomas Sowell covers this well in basic economics for anyone interested.

[@Dad_K]

Very nice

[@drewbsn]

Why not look at the guest? Great discussion. Came here from MFM

[@ShelterDogs]

Loved the interview. Although, that Tom Brady segment felt a little awkward. It's weird, I was thinking Marcus Aurelius's brutal winters in Northern Germany were some how going to be mentioned here. But it wasn't to be.

[@ColossusFitness]

I ordered a signed version of your book and paid a lot to ship it to my country and it wasn't even signed :(

[@uptamistik]

Ouch!

[@petersolberg1894]

Dude... you're Colossus...handle your business...

[@koperto4169]

The man on left has Ego XXXL but Steven is cool 👏

[@RealziesCuts]

Non Writing stuff is worth your time when you’ve been at work all day and you’ve been to the gym and you’re finally at home and you have the Xbox series X 💫🏆🎮🥇

[@MuhammadAli-db2wr]

👍👍

[@Arunav_Gogoi]

You should definitely interview robin sharma, author of “5am Club”

[@LisaMarie-rh5yn]

Omg I cannot tolerate Robin Sharma. Ugh! Love Ryan & Steven though! ❤

[@grublet13]

The phrase is the “separates the boys from the men” not the “boys from the girls” lol

[@caroleirwin2727]

I'm a binge painter! Lol

[@link6563]

I can assure you the Spartans were not sitting around saying, come on guys lets slow this down we don't want to burn out. I know they are coming to kill us but think about your long term health, lets just pace ourselves and relax a little. I just can't see that image in my head

[@MassMultiplayer]

so true that "we dont know when nuggets drops" so the art grind is very vague, the vibe of not feeling it making jewels, and something you in the zone and its average. very true facinating. the resistance part is well said, i feel like its a bit nihilism and "whatever" make best guitar solo improvisation. work less for writting. writting for me is more random. its more about capturing when thye happen than forcing them to breed. but since im vegan id say forcing them to grow. wink wink good one right lol. roam wildly with guitar hunting riff, but more a trapper for writing, being aware and notice the thought happening than trying to forc idea thought to apear or come. they are wild bird that can be easily unnoticed, those thought fly by, not saved, not considered. Beautifull wild bird that fly by silently unnoticed : the tousands of thoughts that i havnt noticed-considered-captured-saved-deconstructed-challenged . its a bit obsessive. i love it tho, and so does my ego. For music i try forget everything and let go, for Writting i try wonder and lisent (to others and myself, to triggers the capture)

[@MassMultiplayer]

this has to be one of the funniest and deepest writing discussion ive heard xD i love writing but dong dig the writing discussion itself, even tho i get what you say and the subtile angles. delicious.. dont loose momentum of the fact the jist (use memory for later like this) wich alreayd do, think quik, polish later. yep fear let go. who care, improvise alot . ive seen heard so many artist that try make perfect song but end up having 2 3 scared song they never show and wait the ultimate gem. bruu i machingun tousand image hudnread page . i completly fine if 90% of my stuff is pure crap. i just cant stop writing drawing and making music (check my metal music if yo into this, i sell nothing , free forever )

[@DJSTOEK]

😷🖤💀🖤😷

[@Ismael2019pop]

I thought this was the Jewish guy from the Sopranos 😅

[@durianwalker]

How is it possible that Steve has less net-worth than Ryan?

[@PAKallman]

Internet

[@logandaniel3742]

So I should quit my car sales job

[@link6563]

Momentum would be what you literally need to push past resistance. to get momentum you need speed...... That is the basic laws of physics or some bs

[@holdfastgloves]

Love Steven, such a professional and caring person. I am not a fan of the lack of eye contact/body language from Ryan with how the seating is. Comes across as flippant and disrespectful to his guest. Just my $0.02

[@FromTh1sDayForward]

Great interview but DAMN Ryan says “like” waaay too much. It’s distracting.

[@PAKallman]

Best team in history of sports is inaccurate- Bulls all day.

[@PAKallman]

First time ive ever heard ryan be wrong

[@labornurse]

The phrase follow your heart is so so wrong.

[@liyuche2695]

how so

[@labornurse]

@@liyuche2695 feelings come and go, got to check things with the rational mind.

[@PAKallman]

@@labornurse why not both?

[@LeeAdrian777]

The bible says the heart is deceitfully wicked. Or something along those lines.

[@andreastierbach6507]

Ryan looks like a guy that likes to talk much instead of doing.