I'm a Pretend CEO

I read a fantastic book yesterday called The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. 

In fact, I read the whole thing in one sitting. I have never read a whole book in one sitting before…

It was a transformative experience, I felt high during and after. 

Like going raw for the first time with a 9.5/10, 

I was detached from the pains of the past and the uncertainties of the future, I was fully present. 

Is a great book in the same league as top shelf pussy? Jeez, what a discovery.

I went for a walk afterwards in the rain at 12:47 am on a Sunday night, after that book, I needed some air. 

The book talks about a “war” between the act of creating “art” and the creator. This enemy in the “war” is something called Resistance and “art” being basically anything you can create, including trying out a business idea. 

Resistance can be self doubt, distractions, excuses, etc.

I won’t summarize the whole book because my attempt at it will leave you unsatisfied (just like that poor 9.5/10). 

One question from the book I am going to cover is this:

What would you do if you were the last person on earth? 

I’ll share mine:

I would be a theater actor. 

You may not know this about me, but I was a total theater kid growing up. I lost count how many plays I have been in.

I have often joked to my friends, if every job paid the same, I’d be a theater actor. 

Well, I grew up poor and that wasn’t exactly an option if I wanted to eat. 

I personally enjoyed creating characters from written text:  how they walk, talk and react to the external world. 

You might not know, but the majority of acting is done alone in a room, or in the mind of the actor. The performance is just the presentation of the final product. 

Starting a business is similar in its isolation.

First, you need to be a little crazy to be an entrepreneur, just as you need a bit of crazy in you to be an actor. 

Next, the idea, the creation of a product or service and the actual steps needed to put it together are much like creating a character. It’s all based on your interpretation. 

Last, when you finally go to present, the audience (or customers in the case of the entrepreneur) will let you know if what you created is good or shit.

If you suck, you get boos as an actor. As an entrepreneur, no one buys what you have to offer. Even if you thought you did a good job, the market doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what YOU think. 

But sometimes, you absolutely nail it. You can have a performance that receives standing ovations or you can have a product that turns you into a millionaire. 

But the key concept of the book is, regardless of the external feedback, the “artist” needs to consistently be in the state of creation and fight against the resistance regardless of the external feedback. 

This is the only way you can get performances like Marlon Brando’s Godfather, or slam dunk products like Dyson vacuums. 

So don’t stop creating.

I often say that I’m a “Pretend CEO”, meaning I’m better at acting the role than actually being one. But what if they are the same thing?

Do yourself a favor and get that book.  

• Vessal

P.S Currently looking to audition for theater roles.