Do the Work
A guide to overcoming resistance and unleashing creative potential.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- Start before you’re ready
- Stay primitive
- Trust the soup
- Swing for the seats
- Don’t overthink or over-research
- End before you’re ready
- Ship
key point 1 of 7
Start before you’re ready
The concept of ‘Start before you’re ready’ suggests a proactive and insistent approach to tackling projects or creative endeavors. It advocates for the initiation of action without waiting for perfect conditions or the ideal moment. The reasoning behind this is that there is never a ‘perfect’ time to start, and waiting for such a moment can lead to procrastination and the stalling of progress. This perspective encourages individuals to leap into their work with the resources and knowledge they currently possess, rather than postponing action until they feel fully prepared or equipped. It is a call to embrace uncertainty and learn through doing…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 7
Stay primitive
The concept of ‘Stay primitive’ in the book suggests that to overcome Resistance and accomplish creative tasks, one must tap into a primal, more instinctual state of mind. This primitive state is raw and unfiltered, where the creator can act with boldness and genuine emotion, bypassing the overthinking and self-censorship that often stifles creativity. By staying primitive, the creator can access the unvarnished truth within them, leading to more authentic and powerful work…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 7
Trust the soup
The metaphor ‘Trust the soup’ signifies embracing the chaos and uncertainty that come with any creative process. It suggests that the act of creation is, by its very nature, messy and unpredictable, like a pot of soup with a myriad of ingredients bubbling away. The flavors have not yet melded; the final product is not yet recognizable. One must have faith that with time, something cohesive and palatable will emerge…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 7
Swing for the seats
The perspective of ‘Swing for the seats’ is an analogy drawn from baseball, which in this context is used to represent the idea of aiming for large, ambitious goals rather than holding back due to fear or doubt. The phrase encourages individuals to take bold actions and commit fully to their endeavors. It is a call to not be content with playing it safe or aiming for modest achievements, but instead to go for the metaphorical ‘home run’…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 7
Don’t overthink or over-research
The author argues that overthinking and over-researching are forms of resistance that prevent us from starting or completing our creative endeavors. Overthinking leads to paralysis by analysis, where we get so caught up in considering all possible directions and outcomes that we become overwhelmed and unable to make a decision. This state of inaction is a productivity killer and often stems from fear—fear of failure, fear of not being perfect, or fear of the unknown. The anticipation of these fears causes us to overanalyze rather than act…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 7
End before you’re ready
The concept of ending before you’re ready, as presented in the material, is about overcoming the resistance that often arises toward the completion of a creative project or task. The creation process, be it writing, painting, starting a business, or any other endeavor, is fraught with moments of self-doubt and the temptation to endlessly tweak and perfect one’s work. This urge to perfect can become a form of procrastination that prevents a project from ever being finished…Read&Listen More
key point 7 of 7
Ship
In ‘Do the Work’, the concept of ‘Ship’ refers to the act of delivering the final product or result of one’s efforts. The author emphasizes that the act of shipping is critical to the creative process. It is the culmination of the work put into a project and represents a creator’s willingness to expose their work to the public, open it to judgment, and move forward. Shipping is what separates amateurs from professionals; it’s the commitment to completion regardless of fears, doubts, and insecurities that may arise during the creative process…Read&Listen More