063 - The War of Art: Lessons for Exam Success

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield explains why you keep sabotaging your architect exam prep and how to stop. This episode is a war of art summary applied to the ARE, breaking down Resistance, self sabotage, and what it means to turn pro.

If you've ever cleaned your refrigerator instead of studying, researched materials for weeks without opening one, or told yourself you'll schedule the exam "when you're ready," that's not laziness. Steven Pressfield calls it Resistance.

I break down the five ways Resistance shows up for ARE candidates, the difference between discipline vs motivation, and the four principles that separate amateurs from professionals.

📝 Key Topics Covered:

• The War of Art summary and how Resistance works

• Self sabotage examples on the architect exam

• Perfectionism and procrastination as forms of Resistance

• Discipline vs motivation: why consistency beats intensity

• Fear of failure and fear of success

• Turning pro: four principles that change everything

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:15) Free Study Notes

(2:46) The Book That Changed Everything

(3:22) My Experience with The War of Art

(6:06) What Is The War of Art?

(7:18) Understanding Resistance

(11:19) Turning Pro

(16:25) The Bigger Picture

(17:25) Call to Action

(19:11) Wrap Up

📖 Read the full blog post

📕 Get The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

📝 Download the FREE Resistance study notes

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📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Project Development and Documentation)

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

• AIA Contracts 101