#256 Steven Pressfield: Defeating Resistance and Starting Before You’re Ready

#256 Steven Pressfield: Defeating Resistance and Starting Before You’re Ready

Author: Jim Harshaw, Jr. July 13, 2020 Duration: 44:26

Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTION
Free Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLY

“It’s not about genius. It’s about work.”

Steven Pressfield was an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, truck driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout, attendant in a mental hospital, fruit-picker, and screenwriter. He wrote for 27 years before publishing his first novel. His struggles to make a living as an author, including the period when he was homeless and living out of the back of his car, are detailed in his book The War of Art.

Pressfield's first book, The Legend of Bagger Vance, was published in 1995, and was made into a 2000 film of the same name directed by Robert Redford and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Matt Damon.

His second novel, Gates of Fire (1998), is about the Spartans and the battle at Thermopylae. It is taught at the U.S. Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode-- as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode-- at JimHarshawJr.com/Action/.

Links referenced in this episode:

Mark McLaughlin: http://jimharshawjr.com/223/

Let's connect:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Your Host Jim Harshaw

My name is Jim Harshaw. And I know where you’re at. You’re working hard and qualified for what you do but you aren’t getting what you want. You have plans on getting to the C-suite or launching a business but ultimate success seems as far away today as ever. You’re in the right place because you can get there from here.

And I can help.

Who I Am

I’m a speaker, coach, and former Division I All-American wrestler that helps motivated former athletes to reach their full potential by getting clarity on what they really want and taking aggressive action to lead their ideal life not just despite their prior failures but because of them.

I’m a husband and father of four. And I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’ve launched multiple successful businesses as well as the obligatory failed one. I’ve been the executive director of a non-profit and have raised millions of dollars. I’ve worked in sales. I’ve even been a Division I head coach. While I was born in a blue-collar home I have spent my life surrounded by Olympians, CEO’s, and millionaires.

Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

I’ve been lucky.

I’ve learned the habits of successful people and guess what. You’re just like them. I know because I know your type. You’re programmed for hard work, which is a prerequisite for success, but you’ve never been shown how to use what you know to create the life you want with the tools you have.

I will show you how.

Why You Are Here

You've worked hard to achieve greatness. You’ve set goals and maybe even set records. You’ve definitely failed and you’ve at some point found yourself questioning if you were on the right track.

You need to understand this: You are far more prepared to succeed than those who’ve not tried, competed, struggled, and overcome as you have. That’s the value of your education as someone who aims high. You are prepared to be as successful as your wildest dreams will allow.

Here I will teach you, with the help of brilliant minds that have been shaped by failure, struggle, and adversity, to be who you want to be. I sense that you want this because you have read this far.

To take the next step today, click here.

FOLLOW JIM

Website | Facebook | Twitter


There's a particular drive that comes from a background in sports, a mindset forged in competition and discipline that doesn't just switch off when you leave the field. Success for the Athletic-Minded Man taps directly into that energy, translating the core principles of athletic performance into tools for everyday life. Host Jim Harshaw, Jr. understands that the same clarity needed to execute a game plan, the focus required in a critical moment, and the consistency of daily practice are the exact traits that define winning in business, relationships, and personal health. This isn't about finding more hours in the day; it's about applying a strategic, trained approach to all of it. Each episode feels like a conversation with a coach who's been in your shoes, addressing the real tension between ambitious career goals, being a present father and partner, and maintaining physical fitness without letting any single priority suffer. You'll hear practical discussions on management, self-improvement, and the mental frameworks that help you stop shortchanging the areas that matter most. The podcast moves beyond theory, offering actionable insights for men who aim to build a life of sustained achievement, where success is measured across the board, not just on a scoreboard.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Success for the Athletic-Minded Man
Podcast Episodes
3 Reasons You Don’t Have Enough Time (and How to Fix Each One) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:18
#508 3 Reasons You Don’t Have Enough Time (and How to Fix Each One)-----Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTIONFree Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLYIf you're constantly saying “I don’t have enough time,”…
The 9-Step Framework for Rapid, Lasting Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:31
#504 The 9-Step Framework for Rapid, Lasting Change-----Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTIONFree Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLYRapid change isn’t magic— it’s a system. Here are the 9 ways to make it…
The 500 Challenge: 30 Days, 3 Minutes, Zero Excuses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:31
#500 The 500 Challenge: 30 Days, 3 Minutes, Zero Excuses -----Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTIONFree Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLYA Navy SEAL, a blind mountaineer, and a pastor walk into a podcas…