Steve Magness

The process of setting a goal on the outer boundaries of what we think is possible, and then systematically pursuing it, is one of the most fulfilling parts about being human.

Stress + Rest = Growth. This equation holds true regardless of what you are trying to grow.

If you want to continuously improve in whatever it is that you do, you’ve got to view stress as something positive, even desirable. Although too much or never-ending stress can be dangerous, the right amount serves as a powerful stimulus for growth.

Growth comes at the point of resistance. Skills come from struggle.

In order to be a maximilaist, you have to be a minimalist.

We think we are missing out on a lot by sleeping, but in fact we are missing out on far more by not sleeping. Sleep is one of the most productive things we can do.

Across the board, when great performers are doing serious work their bodies and minds are 100 percent there. They are fully engaged in the moment.

The way we think about the world has a profound effect on what we do in it.

The best performers are not consistently great, but they are great at being consistent. They show up every day and they do the work.

For 99 percent of us, effective multitasking is nothing more than effective delusional thinking.

When you’re under passion’s spell, the reward you think you’re chasing—usually some sort of contentment or satiation—is merely an illusion. We don’t get hooked on the feeling associated with achievement, we get hooked on the feeling associated with the chase.

When it comes to living with passion, it’s not about balance. It’s about marrying strong harmonious passion with an equally strong self-awareness. Doing so trumps balance any day.

Focusing on the process creates daily opportunities for little victories. These little victories serve as waypoints on the path of mastery, helping to sustain your motivation over the long haul. Process spurs progress, and progress, on a deep neurochemical level, primes us to persist.

Doing the work has a special way of putting both success and failure in their respective places. After a massive achievement or a devastating failure, getting back to work serves as an embodied reminder that external results aren’t why you are in this.

Don’t judge yourself against others. Judge yourself against prior versions of yourself and the effort you are exerting in the present moment. This is about as healthy a form of competition as there is.

A better approach to finding your passion is to lower the bar from perfect to interesting, then give yourself permission to pursue your interests with an open mind.

Mindlessly living with a passion can be extremely harmful and destructive. Mindfully living with a passion can be the key to a life well lived.

The line between what we consider a destructive addiction and a productive passion is a fine one, if such a line exists at all.

Passion, when approached the right way, is an ongoing practice. A practice that leads to not only a wonderful experience of working, but also a wonderful experience of living.