Chapter 30: The Battle No One Sees

I’ve been fighting a war lately.

Not against someone else, but against myself.

Working to:

• Launch StoryHaus.

• Bring StorySchool to life.

• Monetize what I’ve been building for the past 6 months.

But instead of momentum, I’ve been hitting a wall of resistance:

• Fear of failure

• Imposter syndrome

• Second-guessing the path

And yet… every time I coach a founder, hop on a strategy call, or open my DMs…

I’m reminded — I know my shit.

So what’s holding me back?

It’s not the vision.

It’s not the strategy.

It’s the old version of me fighting against the new.

It’s a reminder that everything in this world comes down to you vs you.

Let’s talk about how to win that war.

The War Within

This is the central idea of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

It’s the voice that says:

• “Wait until it’s perfect.”

• “You’re not ready yet.”

• “What if people don’t like it?”

That’s resistance.

And resistance is a liar.

It disguises itself as:

• Fear

• Procrastination

• Perfectionism

• Overthinking

• Anxiety

Here’s how to think about it:

Resistance = the old you fighting back

Showing up = your weapon

Doing it daily = your transformation

Resistance won’t just stop your work. It’ll rob you of your life.

But to win the war? You have to fight back with discipline.

Discipline Is Your Portal

Rick Rubin talks about this in The Creative Act:

Ideas aren’t yours.

They’re transmissions. Downloads from Source.

And they tend to visit those who are present — and open to them.

You don’t chase inspiration.

You create the conditions for it to arrive.

Discipline is a sacred ritual.

It’s why I lean so hard on structure:

• Same creative blocks every day.

• Morning workouts, first thing in the AM.

• Reducing decision fatigue so I can make space for what matters.

Your daily practice is your portal.

And when you show up — The Muse meets you on the other side.

Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress

I want StoryHaus to succeed.

I want the founders I work with to win.

I want the things I launch to be airtight.

But chasing “perfect” is just resistance in a costume.

Remember:

• Michael Jordan missed over 9,000 shots — and is still the GOAT.

• Picasso made over 50,000 pieces of art — but only a few are remembered.

• Prince wrote 500+ songs — most people only know 10.

Volume > perfection.

Consistency > confidence.

Every rep chips away at the old version of you.

Every day you stack is another battle won in the war.

So if you’re in your own season of resistance — good.

That means you’re in the arena.

And in this game?

It’s you vs you.

And the only way to win… is to keep showing up.

Try This Today

1. Name Your Resistance. What’s it saying? Write the lies down. Call it out.

2. Take a Micro Step. Spend 20 minutes today moving the thing forward. No pressure, just progress.

3. Create a Ritual. Pick a time + place. Make it sacred. Do it again tomorrow.

4. Add Accountability. Tell someone. Go public. Build a container that holds you to it.

5. Track the Streak. Note the days you show up. You don’t need applause, just momentum.

Wrapping Up

Here’s the irony:

I know StoryHaus is going to be wildly successful. Because I know myself — and I won’t allow it to be anything less.

But these doubts? These internal battles? They’re part of the process.

They show up when you care deeply.

I share this chapter openly because I want you to know — you’re not alone.

Resistance isn’t a sign you’re off track. It’s a test.

And how you respond determines everything.

Rooting for ya,
—Dodds

P.S. In July I’ll be working 1-on-1 with 5 founders to design their brand’s content strategy. We’ll take you from feeling burnt out with no structure — to clarity around your brand narrative, content pillars, and formats — packaged in a system that actually works.

I’ve got 2 spots left.

Reply here if you’re ready to stop guessing and refine a story and strategy that earns trust, drives impact, and grows your business.