In this engaging discussion, Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness, experts on human performance and the psychology of passion, dissect the complexities of passion. They reveal that passion has both light and dark sides, cautioning against the typical advice to "find your passion." The duo emphasizes the need for a mastery mindset to navigate the delicate balance between obsession and genuine interest, while highlighting the importance of patience, internal motivation, and the acceptance of an unbalanced life for true fulfillment.
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insights INSIGHT
The Passion Paradox
Passion is a double-edged sword, offering potential but also risks.
It's a powerful driving force but can become a curse if unchecked.
insights INSIGHT
Two Types of Passion
There are two types of passion: harmonious passion (positive) and obsessive passion (negative).
Harmonious passion is driven by internal enjoyment, while obsessive passion seeks external validation.
insights INSIGHT
Biology of Passion
Similar brain activity occurs in both positive and negative passion due to dopamine release.
Passion and addiction share similarities, as both involve relentless pursuit despite negative consequences.
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Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success
Brad Stulberg
Steve Magness
Peak Performance uncovers the common principles that drive success in different domains, from athletics to intellectual and artistic pursuits. The book combines stories of top performers with scientific insights into cognitive and neurochemical factors that enhance performance. It teaches readers how to optimize their performance by alternating between intense work and rest, priming the body and mind for productivity, and developing a self-transcending purpose. The authors provide practical advice on managing stress, prioritizing rest and sleep, and setting meaningful goals to avoid burnout and achieve peak performance.
The Passion Paradox
Brad Stulberg
Steve Magnus
So Good They Can't Ignore You
Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
Cal Newport
In this book, Cal Newport challenges the conventional wisdom that following one's passion is the key to career happiness. Instead, he argues that passion often follows mastery and that developing valuable skills and expertise is essential for creating work you love. Newport presents four rules: Don't follow your passion, Be so good they can't ignore you, Turn down a promotion, and Think small, act big. He supports his arguments with case studies from various professionals who have found satisfaction in their careers through hard work and skill development.
"Passion" is a word that's been thrown around a lot in the last few decades. People have a vague notion that passion is a very good thing, and that they want to find it in their work and lives. But beyond passion as a buzzword, its realities are actually very little discussed and seldomly well understood.
My guests today have set out to correct this deficit in their new book: The Passion Paradox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success, and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life. Their names are Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness, and I had them on the show last year to discuss their book Peak Performance. Today, we talk about the parts of passion that rarely get talked about: that it has both a positive and a negative side, how the advice to “find your passion” isn’t very useful, and the 3 things you need to really grow your passion. We also discuss why going all-in on your passion too early can lead to long-term failure, how passion can lead individuals to cheat to get and stay ahead, and why embracing the 6 pillars of the "mastery mindset" can help negate the negative side of passion, and harness its positive powers. We end our conversation discussing how it's okay to have an unbalanced life, and what to do if you can no longer do the thing you’re passionate about or you simply stop being passionate about your work.
The Art of Manliness 
