Summary: Another short book by Mr. Pressfield. Short, but impactful. Turning pro requires discipline. Above everything. The discipline to sit down at a place, at a fixed time, and simply do the work.

Notes:

“When we turn pro, we give up a life with which we may have become extremely comfortable. We give up a self that we have come to identify with and to call our own. We may have to give up friends, lovers, even spouses.”

“When we were amateurs, our life was about drama, about denial and about distraction. Our days were simultaneously full to the bursting point and achingly, heartbreakingly empty.”

“A practice has a space and that space is sacred.”

“When we convene day upon day in the same space at the same time, a powerful energy builds up around us. This is the energy of our intention, of our dedication, of our commitment.”

“Our intention as artists is to get better, to go deeper, to work closer and closer to the bone.”

“Our role on tough - nut days is to maintain our composure and keep chipping away. We’re pros. We’re not amateurs. We have patience. We can handle adversity.”

“Our work is a practice. One bad day is nothing to us. Ten bad days are nothing.”