250: How Pros Beat Resistance Every Day | Steven Pressfield

For our 250th episode milestone, we’re joined by one of the most influential voices in creativity and personal mastery: Steven Pressfield. Best known for The War of Art, Turning Pro, and The Legend of Bagger Vance, Pressfield has spent decades helping leaders, creators, founders, and high performers understand—and defeat—the invisible force he famously calls Resistance.

In this powerful conversation, Damon Lembi and Steven unpack the habits, mindsets, and disciplines that separate true professionals from amateurs. From nearly 30 years of rejection before his first published novel to the rituals he still uses to quiet fear and show up every day, Pressfield offers a candid, deeply relatable look at what it really takes to do meaningful work.

Read the full breakdown of Steven Pressfield’s milestone episode on Learnit.

Key Leadership Lessons from Steven Pressfield:

  • Pros show up daily—no matter the fear, the mood, or the excuses. Consistency is the real competitive advantage.

  • Resistance is sneaky. It hides as procrastination, perfectionism, distraction, and even self-doubt—but naming it gives you power over it.

  • Self-doubt is often a compass pointing toward the work that matters most.

  • “Shadow careers” feel productive but keep you safe—escaping them is the first step in doing the work you’re meant to do.

Connect with Steven Pressfield:

Steven is a best-selling author and one of the most influential voices in creative leadership and performance psychology. His work has empowered millions to overcome fear, trust their calling, and take ownership of their craft.

Explore more episodes of the Learn-It-All Podcast™ on Learnit.com to gain leadership insights from top experts.

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249: What Elite Sports Teams Know About Building Culture That You Don’t | Ken Crenshaw