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March 26, 2024
189. Beware Your Shadow Career: Jay Papasan, author of “The One Thing,” [reads] “Turning Pro”
Jay Papasan reading from Steven Pressfield’s “Turning Pro,” and discussing the concept of transitioning from an amateur to a professional in one's craft, the sacrifices and mindset shifts required, and the importance of being deeply committed to one's true calling.
Jay Papasan reading from Steven Pressfield’s Turning Pro, and discussing the concept of transitioning from an amateur to a professional in one's craft, the sacrifices and mindset shifts required, and the importance of being deeply committed to one's true calling.
Jay Papasan is the best-selling author of The One Thing, which has sold over 3 million copies and appeared on numerous bestseller lists. Jay's career trajectory has been a series of evolutions, from working in publishing at HarperCollins, to freelance writing, to finding a deep expression of his mission to create impact working in collaboration with Gary Keller. Jay's journey exemplifies the courage and (useful) restlessness to pursue a calling and make a difference in the world.
Jay reads two pages from “Turning Pro” by Steven Pressfield. [reading begins at 27:25]
Hear us discuss:
“When we wrote The One Thing, what became really clear from the success stories is that the people that achieve the most, the businesses that achieve the most, the athletes, the artists, were driven by some inner drive.” [12:16]
“If I'm focused on impact, whatever I'm working on has to matter to me and others. And I don't define the scope of others, because that's a trap.” [21:28]
"Sometimes, when we're terrified of embracing our true calling, we pursue a shadow calling instead. That shadow career is a metaphor for our real career." [29:51]
“The first question we ask is, when someone finishes this book that we haven't written yet, what's the first thing they're going to say about it? And what's the first thing they're going to do differently?” [43:12]
“The things that come with maintaining success are not what got you there.” [52:24]
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Resources:
Jay Papasan | Website | LinkedIn | The ONE Thing | Your First Home
Steven Pressfield | Turning Pro
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#141 “How You Get Good at Something” with McKinley Valentine reading from David Robson’s The Expectation Effect, and discussing understanding and utilizing your mental resources.
#98 “And the Walls Became the World” with Chris West reading from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and discussing the magic of your imagination.