Death Before Quitting
Giving it your all
You work hard. Put in long hours. Show up early and stay late. Are you willing to die over it? Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, Mastery and The Laws of Human Nature certainly was ready to die.
It was 2018 and Robert suffered a massive stroke. In an interview he admits that the book he was working on at the time, The Laws of Human Nature was a stressful project. We all have stress from work or a project. Deadlines to meet, emails to answer and still a life to live. In an Interview by Lewis Howes Robert admits willing to die over the project.
“I would rather die than not publish a book.”
Of course this advice is not sound, to push yourself even when there is a clear point to stop. However, underneath lies something powerful. You quit too quickly and too often. Instead of staying with the task or project you give up and you haven’t even suffered a stroke. Are you willing to work at something you love, despite the pain? You stop going to the gym because you’re sore. You don’t expand the side business you started at home because it’s too much paperwork or you don’t know what to do. You come up with excuses as to why you don’t study and then you have to retake the course.
Robert Greene is hinting at finishing what you start. Giving life and work all you have. You only have this one chance. You only have today, as tomorrow is just not promised.
Robert Greene survived his stroke. You too will survive. Being tired. Hungry. Frustrated. Out of ideas. Stressed. The deadlines. The agony of writing a book, creating a film, putting together an art show or giving a presentation in front of 25 people.
You may not be doing something you love at this moment. Robert clearly loves to write books for the world. However, if you do have something you love doing, are you willing to die to ensure you finish?
As Marcus Aurelius said in book Meditations,
“Are you afraid of dying because you won’t be able to do this anymore?”
Meaning you fear everything and do nothing. You don’t take risks. You don’t want to try. Meanwhile you’re afraid of death why? To sit on the couch instead of putting in the work required. You’re afraid of dying because you can’t watch Netflix anymore. You’re afraid of dying but how is the way you are living any different?
The point here is to not encourage unhealthy habits, death or working yourself to the bone. But to encourage that you can do more than you’re doing now.
Thought Provoking Question 1 : What would you give all you have to?
Dan Roman is a Husband, Father, and writer that releases a daily blog. A quick read on sharing wisdom and asking though-provoking questions.
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