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Welcome to The Bold Brief—

You are a member of this community of top-notch expert nurses and healthcare professionals who aspire to be “bold” in career and life.

We want to be bold in our life’s purpose, and bold in life and career choices so that we can live with authenticity, balance, and meaningful challenges, driving forward with confidence.

So… the summer reading series book 3!

Welcome to the 3rd edition of the 2025 Summer Reading Series!

I read 5 books for you and I am sharing the relevant takeaways for you!

⚔️ Book 3 is The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - Core Concepts

• The Resistance: Pressfield introduced the concept of "The Resistance" which is a force that actively works against creativity, productivity, and personal growth. Resistance can appear as procrastination, self-doubt, or external distractions. The key is recognizing and combating this internal force.

• Turning Pro: To overcome resistance, Pressfield argued, you must “turn pro” which is adopting a mindset that embraces the discipline of a professional, not an amateur. Professionals show up every day, regardless of their feelings or challenges.

• The Creative Journey: Creative work is often a battle, but it’s also a transformative process. Pressfield suggests that the work itself is not about success or failure but about committing to the process of creating. This means showing up and doing the work, even when the path is unclear.

• The Art of Discipline: Discipline is the antidote to resistance. Through daily habits, rituals, and consistency, we can combat resistance and push through to create meaningful work. This consistency is what allows us to evolve both as professionals and individuals.

My Take for You - The Why

The War of Art speaks to the internal battle we all face when we step into new, unfamiliar roles whether in creativity, leadership, or career reinvention. Pressfield identifies resistance as a powerful force that keeps us from reaching our true potential. This idea resonates deeply with what we, at The Bold Nurse Academy, encourage our Bold Nurses to do: We face those internal and external forces head-on to make a bold move.

Resistance appears in many forms, such as procrastination, self-doubt, or external distractions and as nurses or healthcare professionals, we know these struggles all too well. The key is recognizing resistance for what it is and pushing through to stay aligned with your core values and goals.

The act of turning pro, i.e., committing to daily discipline and showing up despite your feelings, is something every Bold Nurse needs to adopt as part of their career transformation. Whether it's stepping into a leadership role, pivoting to a non-clinical path, or becoming a mentor, the creative journey of career reinvention takes commitment, consistency, and courage.

What You Might Find Useful: Key Takeaways from Book 1 and The Bold Nurse Academy - The How

• Resistance is the force that pulls us away from our creative potential and stops us from making bold career moves. It shows up as self-doubt, procrastination, or fear of failure.

  • In the Bold Nurse Academy, we equip you with strategies to identify and combat and overcome roadblocks, so you can move forward with purpose. Coaching from Dr. Kristi Campoe helps you develop the mindset and discipline to consistently take small steps toward your goals, despite the resistance you may face.

• Pressfield’s idea of turning pro is key to overcoming resistance like showing up every day, even when it’s tough and cultivating discipline like turning your actions into habits.

  • At BNA, we work with you to transform your mindset into one that embraces consistency and accountability via self-leadership. You can’t build the life and career you want without the mindset of a professional, and we help you do that, no matter where you’re starting from.

• The creative journey is about doing the work, not just aiming for the outcome.

  • At BNA, career reinvention, much like creativity, is about committing to the process. There’s no instant success or easy fix. Dr. Campoe will guide you through this transformative journey, ensuring that every step you take is meaningful and aligned with your long-term vision and purpose. We help you make progress, not perfection, in your career and personal growth.

Actionable Insight →Take One Small Step Today

Start with one micro-action that will help you combat resistance. This could be something small like:

1. Set a daily routine to work on a career goal (e.g., updating lines not pages of your resume, setting up an informational interview).

2. Commit to a 15-minute action step towards a new role or opportunity, even if you don’t feel ready.

3. Practice a new habit that brings you closer to your next bold step, like using the SCAMPER technique for creative problem-solving.

The key is to take small steps that build momentum, just like the pro mentality in The War of Art. These small daily actions, over time, will help you push past resistance and make real progress toward your career reinvention.

Scroll Down for Summer Reading Series Poll 3

Take the poll to be registered for a summer reading series prize!  

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Why This Matters

1. In career transformation, resistance is inevitable, especially when you’re exploring new possibilities. Nurses, like everyone else, face self-doubt, fear, and uncertainty. But when you understand that roadblocks and resistance is natural, you can stop letting it control your progress.

2. Turning pro is pushed you to adopt a professional mindset and take consistent, deliberate action that leads to transformation. At BNA, we understand how overwhelming this process can be, but we also know how to break it down into small, actionable steps that lead to real change. The creative journey is one of growth, resilience, and commitment, just like career reinvention.

If you’re ready to combat resistance and turn pro in your career, the Bold Nurse Academy is here to help guide you through it. Let’s create a career path that embraces discipline, pushes through resistance, and celebrates progress, not perfection.

Poll 3 Summer Reading Series

🔍 Book 4 is next week!

In case you the goal this series, we will focus on 5 books handpicking practical tools. 

Book 1 🔄 Clarify your next career move with inward focused strategies - Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra.

Book 2🔍 Break down the barriers keeping you from acting on new opportunities Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us by Dr. Tasha

Book 3⚔️ Leverage your strengths to open doors in new roles - The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Book 4-5🌟Boost your confidence and visibility as a leader in your field

Stay tuned for next week’s edition of The Bold Brief

🔍 Book 4 ___________________ by ___________________.

Are you ready to ___________________ ___________________ so that you can ___________________?

Again, I have done all the work for you so, let’s embrace this summer and enjoy a not-so-common book together!

I am still here with you every for all 5 books this summer. 💗

💗💗P.S. If you want to learn from me on a daily basis, come connect with me on LinkedIn

Remember that this is a dedicated space for you, the nurses at the bedside and beyond, the committed healthcare professionals ready to explore transformative career paths beyond traditional roles. Every week, we'll dig into evidence-based strategies, insights, and stories designed to empower you to take bold steps toward a fulfilling career and life outside the hospital setting.