3 Quick Thoughts: Win against your greatest enemy, lessons from Steven Pressfield
November 25, 2025 – Caffeine Tuesdays
Resistance is the Real Enemy
Resistance is the invisible force that stops you from doing your work. Procrastination, fear, self-doubt, and perfectionism are great examples of this. They obligingly present themselves when the work matters most. The more important your calling, the more Resistance you’ll face, and ironically, the closer you are to completing your tasks, the stronger they get.
“Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate; it will seduce. Resistance is insidious.”
Turn Pro
The term turn pro by Pressfield is all about the transformation from amateur to professional, not in the sense of money or status, but rather in mindset and discipline. Turning pro means treating your tasks or craft with seriousness, detachment, and consistency, no matter what it is. Going to the gym, writing, painting or simply showing up to class.
Amateurs wait for inspiration to begin or work on projects and tasks.
Pros show up every day, no matter what. They do not depend on inspiration or motivation; they simply go to work.
“The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.”
Resistance Never Goes Away, You Just Get Better at Battling It
Resistance is present the very moment we wake up, waiting to derail us and prevent us from doing what we must. After you snoozed the first alarm and went back to bed, resistance scored on you. Resistance also feeds on fear, self-doubt, and distraction. It sometimes disguises itself as a positive excuse:
I’m just waiting for the right time.
I’m focusing on self–care today.
I’ll start soon, I promise.
Resistance doesn’t just show up as fear or laziness. Its most cunning form is when it hides behind “positive” pursuits. Things that look productive but actually pull you away from your true work.
Reading self-help books daily without executing the knowledge you gain.
I’m helping my friend with his project right now; resistance uses you as long as it prevents you from helping yourself
Every day is a new fight. The goal isn’t to eliminate Resistance, but to build the muscle to overcome it.
See you on Tuesday!