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Aug 4, 2010

How To Be Miserable

That’s the title atop page 68 in The War of Art, a volume I recently listened to on CD and also own in paperback. The author, Steven Pressfield, likens being an artist to being in the Marine Corps.

“The Marine Corps teaches you how to be miserable.

This is invaluable for an artist. [My note – You can substitute business owner for artist here.]

…He will be dining for the duration of a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation…

Because this is war, baby. And war is hell.”

There’s something perversely heart-warming about how Pressfield states this. I want to say, “Yeah! I’m fighting for my life every day!”

If you’re reading this, and you’re and artist/entrepreneur, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. As promised in the subtitle: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles.

I don’t know an entrepreneur out there who doesn’t face the challenges of, what the author calls, resistances and coaches call gremlins. This book arms you for that battle and makes you proud to show your scars.

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4 Comments

  1. Liz

    Thanks, Jane, for writing about this book. I love it: I’ve read it twice, and it holds a prime place on my bookshelf. As an artist, as a part-time freelancer and as a full-time regular employee at a large company (yes, all at the same time), I recommend The War of Art to anyone and everyone. The author gives voice to some of my own experiences that I would otherwise feel were unique and solitary, and possibly politically incorrect. But I have a lot of company!

    Reply
  2. Christy

    I really enjoyed this post. Never knew about this book, so I will get it. I was wondering why I felt like such a failure on my road to greatness. šŸ™‚

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. janepollak

    @Joanne
    I’m so glad you know it and feel the same way about its impact. Thanks for writing.

    @Liz
    I may have heard about it from YOU! It’s been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years. Then, I saw the audio at the library and started listening. Then, I wanted to see those words in writing. So glad I’ve got it in both formats.

    @Christy
    Nice to know you’re one of many, and we all get there the same way. Thanks!

    Reply

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