ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Paul Millerd quit his job with no source of other income.
He moved to Asia without a plan, without knowing what he was doing, and intentionally gave himself permission to get lost.
What followed wasn’t a linear career pivot or a perfectly executed plan.
It was a long period of exploration, writing, freelancing to pay the bills, and slowly realizing that the only work he consistently cared about was writing. At first, the writing was just something he loved doing. Then people started asking if it could be turned into a book. That book became The Pathless Path.
Today, Paul has built a life centered around what he calls good work—work that energizes him, gives him time, and fits the kind of life he wants to build with his family. Freelancing and consulting fund the journey. Writing is the work he would never give up.
In this conversation, we talk about:
- Why getting lost can be necessary
- How changing your environment changes how you think
- The difference between good work, good-enough work, and bad work
- Why Paul designs his life around time, not status
- How The Pathless Path came from craft, not strategy
- What it actually looks like to leave the default path without forcing an outcome
This episode is for anyone who feels stuck in “good enough” work and knows there’s something else they’re meant to do—but doesn’t yet know how to get there.
Paul Millerd
Personal Website: https://pmillerd.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulMillerd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathlesspaul
Pathless Path: https://geni.us/HvqKy (Amazon)
Pathless Path (new premium hardcover): https://shop.pathlesspath.com/products/pathless-path-hardcover
Good Work: https://geni.us/D5D08 (Amazon)
JJ Thelen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffthelen
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jjthelen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjthelen
