Obsession.

Obsession is the thing that separates mere mortals from the immortals.

It is the element that i̶s̶ p̶o̶s̶s̶e̶s̶s̶e̶d̶ b̶y̶ possesses the greatest among the greats.

People start doing something when they are interested, they continue to do it when they are obsessed.

You think Kanye West, Kobe Bryant and Elon Musk are successful just because they were ‘interested’ in tech, music, basketball or rockets?

They were obsessed.

They came because they were interested, but stayed because they became obsessed.

You don’t just think you can become great at something just because you seem interested in the idea of it.

You do it over, and over, and over, and over again until you become one with it.

You are exhilarated more by the actual doing of the task rather than the result itself.

When you are obsessed, rest days take the most effort.

Where most people see repetition, you see paradise.

Where most people feel bored, you feel alive—more than ever.

You learn to live in the uncertainty, the uncomfortability.

Where most people feel they’ve done it enough times, you feel like you haven’t done enough.

This is the difference between being interested, and being OBSESSED.

Interested people watch obsessed people change the world.

When 17-year old Kobe Bryant was drafted to the NBA back in ‘96, he saw that there was 52 high school ballers that were ranked above him. He was number 53.

So what did he do?

He hunted down every single one of them, surpassing one by one by repetitive drills, ball handling, shuttle runs, the whole nine-yards.

He eventually became #1 draft pick in the NBA.

He truly believed hard work outworks talent, any day of the week.

And I do too.

People like him, you don’t seem them very often. Rest in peace, Mamba. 🕊️

Perspectives on Obsession

Being obsessed, Being addicted, Being consumed.

These words have negative connotations- when in reality, done towards the right things—they create the most positive outcomes in the world.

It’s perspective isn’t it?

What’s good to someone may seem bad to someone else—same with right and wrong.

(more about that topic in an upcoming edition 🫣)

A bad obsession is an act of consumption.

A good obsession is an act of creation.

Passion vs Obsession

Being passionate about something is good, every person should feel passionate about something in their lives—it can be anything: sports, movies, music, cooking, reading, or even the most mundane tasks to most people; as long as you enjoy doing it.

But being obsessed, it is a different feeling.

It’s euphoric.

You can’t expect to become the best at what you do just by feeling passionate about it.

People who play any kind of team or individual sport can relate to this.

You don’t just walk in the ring thinking you’re gonna beat the other guy by knockout just because you feel ‘more passionate’ about the sport.

You walk into that ring like you own the place.

You go in there, knowing there’s a chance that you don’t come out.

But you do it anyway.

Passion doesn’t make a human do this.

Obsession does.

Every single person you looked up to was obsessed in their respective fields.

I am the captain of my college’s football team.

I have always loved and played football ever since a child. I was passionate about it.

But ever since I knew I got into this college, all I wanted to do was get into the team.

I didn’t know what to do, where to start: all I knew is that I wanted to get into the team. At ANY cost.

And so there it was, me waking up in the cold mornings at 5:30 a.m. out in the field, dribbling around with cones, running, jumping, vomiting—it had everything.

I was pushing myself to limits I didn’t know existed.

But whatever the feeling, I promised myself I would do it the next day.

And the next day, and the next day.

UNTIL I GOT WHAT I WANTED.

And I did. I got into the team.

And I thought the tide had settled, now I can rest…

But I was still training everyday.

‘Why? Didn’t you get what you wanted?’

Getting into the team wasn’t the hardest part, staying in it was.

So I continued to train, everyday. It was the gym, football, sleep and repeat.

I stayed when everyone around me left.

First to come to the pitch, last to leave.

Why you ask?

Simple.

I was obsessed.

Shoutout to Zach Pogrob for the inspiration. Check him out, crazy good takes on obsession.

Might change this newsletter to a bi-monthly thing to focus more on the writing, what do you guys think?

Let me know by dropping a DM on Instagram, and as always,

Have a wonderful week.🧿