By Chris Cloud
3 Books to help you overcome resistance, get more done, and value your time (not just your productivity).
Do the Work by Steven Pressfield
The lowdown: The universe has a force called Resistance. Any time you set out to do something positive such as quitting smoking, writing a book, starting working out, eating healthy, or launching a business, you’ll inevitably encounter a force that Steven Pressfield aptly calls, “Resistance.” Resistance does not discriminate, it’s impartial, and it affects everyone. However, it’s only in the land of the Doers that dreams come to reality and goals get accomplished. Your job as a creator, as someone setting out to do the work, is to wage war on Resistance. Pressfield gives practical and immediately helpful tips for overcoming Resistance and moving into the land of Doers where you can reap the rewards of progress.
Read this book if you have difficulty moving from idea to reality.
The lowdown: Procrastination is a form of self-preservation. In all actions, there is inherent risk. Risk of failure, risk of looking bad, risk of losing credibility, etc. It’s safe in procrastination-ville. It’s safe never launching. However, the NOW Habit gives practical tools for overcoming procrastination and moving toward action.
Read this book if you struggle with procrastination in any form (ahem, we all do don’t we?). It’s a great complement to Do the Work, from a different angle.
Work the System by Sam Carpenter
The lowdown: Sam tells the story of how his business was running him, and it wasn’t until he developed the mindset of a systems creator that he was able to get out from under the tyranny of the urgent.
Read this book if you struggle to develop repeatable processes, if you are always under the “tyranny of the urgent.” Or, if you simply want to get better at thinking in systems and leveraging the creation of processes in your business or organization to set you free.
