“Riding the Wave: Why Real Excellence Requires Rest”
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Title: The Way of Excellence
Author: Brad Stulberg
Category: Personal Growth, Motivation & Self-Improvement, Mindfulness & Wellbeing, Career Growth
What if the secret to high performance isn't more grinding, but learning to rest? Sam and Sophie sit with that question, because it flips everything we think we know about success on its head.
They walk through Brad Stulberg's wave model of excellence: periods of intense effort followed by active rest, not just recovery. The pair dig into the 'mosaic' life—multiple tiles of work, family, health, and hobbies—and why a grounded identity keeps you from crumbling when one tile cracks. They also cover keystone habits, the long game, and how to turn suffering into growth.
If you've ever felt guilty for resting or thought your worth was tied to your latest achievement, this episode names what's really going on and offers a more sustainable path. The takeaway: excellence is a wave, not a straight line.
The Way of Excellence by Brad Stulberg. If you want the full written summary, the whole library is on 7minutebooks.com/app — over 6,000+ fiction and nonfiction titles you can read or listen to in any language, plus infographics on many titles. Unlimited access from $2.99 a month, $9.99 a year, or $19.99 lifetime.
Chapters
00:00The Wave: Struggle and Reset01:53The Mosaic Life and Grounded Identity03:03Turning Suffering Into Growth03:33The Long Game and Keystone Habits04:05Permission to Rest
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