October 2

Do the Work

A few years ago, I received a lunch pail in the mail from Steven Pressfield. If you’re not familiar with his work, he is the author ofThe War of ArtandDo the Workamong many other bestsellers. Steven believes that the job of a creative pro is to show up every morning, check in at the work site, put on the hard hat, and get to work. That’s why he sent the lunch pail—it was a reminder that our mindsets should be the same as someone who shows up each day to a job site.

There is probably something that you need to do today that you’re putting off. Maybe you don’t feel like doing it because it seems difficult, or you haven’t yet figured out the best way to attack it, or you just don’t have the energy to wrestle the uncertainty of it to the ground. No matter. Your job today is to show up and do the work, to attack it. You don’t have the luxury of waiting until you’re inspired. If you dive into the work, you will find inspiration in the midst of it.

Make progress right now on the thing that seems daunting or uncertain, and you will find inspiration in the midst of your action.

QUESTION

What is “the work” for you today?