In this episode of Info Product Mastery, Paul Millerd comes on the show and we question the default path to work and life.

Topics covered

[00:40 ] Adrian introduces Paul Millerd and how much he loved his book The Pathless Path.

[02:59 ] “I have this sense that something is off…….and writing for me was really this search for my own truth..” - Paul

[04:24 ] Paul gives a synopsis of his coming of age, his early career, and how he landed in entrepreneurship.

[06:56 ] Paul discusses his discontentment with the traditional path.

[08:52 ] “Have my principles won out against this environment, or have they been undermined?” - Paul 

[09:40 ] Adrian asks Paul to define what he thinks of as the default path.

[10:44 ] “A vast majority of people….don’t have the energy to crush it…” - Paul

[13:07 ] Adrian talks about his early career work obsession and why he was chasing success by working himself unsustainably. 

[14:41 ] “Since everyone else is doing the same thing, you don’t realize you’re becoming this…way.” - Paul

[16:00 ] “Alright, it’s 5, 6 o'clock…I’ve been working like 12 hours straight…I’m gonna walk down to the bar…..” - Adrian

[17:08 ] Adrian asks Paul how he developed the courage to break from the typical cycles in the midst of  criticism.

[19:38 ] “I was using the story of freelance for the first year, but I had no idea what I was doing…it was really scary..” - Paul

[20:19 ] Paul discusses the way that some people are still critical with his way of life even though he has been able to find some success.

[21:22 ] “My need to question things is what has led me to this” - Paul

[22:08 ] Adrian asks Paul to define success.

[24:02 ] “Success very practically for me is, can I keep this journey going without harming the people in my life?” - Paul

[26:13 ] Adrian references Jordan Peterson talking about the hero's journey and “slaying the   dragon.” 

[28:39 ] For someone starting a career at times in the past, you did have to put your head down and “trust the company and keep working.” (Paul)

[30:21 ] Paul introduces his concept “Ship, Quit, and Learn.

[33:19 ] Adrian talks about being self-employed and having the ability to make your own schedule and create the life you want versus being forced into a particular schedule in a traditional job.

[35:30 ] “I’m very good at non-work” - Paul

[39:25 ] Adrian asks Paul for advice for beginner writers.

[36:55 ] Adrian comments on being able to take time off from work for self reflection and the importance of that.

[41:06 ] Paul recounts that writing is infinitely interesting and challenging to him. Even after writing a book he still struggles in a good way to find the words.

Links from the show

• Think-Boundless.com


• PyImageSearch


• The Pathless Path: Imagining a New Story For Work and Life

If you have any questions from this episode, or have a question you want me to answer on the show, please submit your question via our contact form. We'd love to hear from you.