Hey everybody!
The second half of August is upon us which means we’re entering the business end of this month’s Bad Ass Bookshelf read: Passion Struck by John R. Miles.
This week, instead of just a simple update about the book so far, we thought we’d drop a little quiz to see if you’ve been paying attention and reading along!
As a 12 year old, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban started a business by selling what product door to door?
A little reminder that we will be hosting the Author John R. Miles next week at our monthly book club call. If you’ve not yet registered to attend, hurry up and do so now as this is not one you’ll want to miss out on!
Register for this months book club call
At the end of each month, we host our book club call open to all members who have upgraded to our paid tier: Bad Ass Bookworm
Join today to unlock access to our bookclub calls, our Bad Ass Bookshelf Discord channel as well as the opportunity to vote for each month’s book club book!
﹅ Key highlights from Passion Struck so far…
We’re now well into the meat of the book, and Miles has thrown plenty our way. Here are three ideas that stood out from this section.
Discomfort is the entry fee for growth
By now it’s crystal clear - the things that matter most to us often sit just on the other side of discomfort. Miles talks about leaning into those moments where you’d rather turn back, because that’s where the real transformation happens. Whether it’s having the awkward conversation, taking the scary leap, or learning something totally outside your comfort zone, those moments are the price we pay for progress.
Your identity shapes your destiny
Miles dives into how the story we tell ourselves about who we are has a massive impact on what we’ll attempt, and what we’ll avoid. If you believe you’re “not the kind of person” who does something, you’ve already closed that door before even trying. The flip side? Consciously choosing a more empowering identity can open up whole new paths.
Slow down to speed up
It sounds counterintuitive, but Miles makes a strong case for stepping back, recharging, and creating space if you want to achieve anything big. Constant busyness might make us feel productive, but it often just leaves us spinning our wheels. Taking deliberate pauses gives you the clarity and energy to make your next move count.
Which of these feels most relevant to your life right now? Share your thoughts in Discord – we’d love to hear what’s landing for you.
● Additional resources
These resources echo the book’s message that discomfort is the entry fee for growth. Each one reinforces the idea that leaning into the uneasy moments opens the path to transformation.
► Join the conversation
What Bad Ass Bookshelf members are saying about Passion Struck
This week’s burning question
What’s one thing you’ve been avoiding because it feels uncomfortable, and what would it look like to take the first tiny step towards it?
Upgrade to join the conversation
These comments come straight from our private Discord community, where our Bad Ass Bookworms chat all month long.
Want in? Upgrade today and join the conversation for just $7/month.
♦︎ Next book club call
We're so excited to host our next Bad Ass Bookshelf bookclub call to discuss Passion Struck at the end of August! Call details below:
Date: Thursday, 28th August
Time: 17:00 GMT (12:00 EST / 09:00 PST)
Participation in our monthly bookclub calls is exclusive to our Bad Ass Bookworm members. Join today!
● Quiz answer
B. Mark Cuban sold garbage bags as a 12 year old kid.
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