A heavy drizzle of obsession

“You gotta just dive all in. You have to be obsessed with it. You can’t just half do it—because you’re trying to win the lottery. You don’t deserve it. No one needs you to do this show. No one needs me to do stand-up. No one is like ‘we have to have you just for life to live on.’ We have to make it so good that people do want to watch.” 
–Nate Bargatze, comedian (in this interview)

This quote is responsible for a large shift in my career priorities over the last six months. I’ve had a deficit of obsession, and this interview with Nate Bargatze helped me realize that. To me, Nate comes across as a chill, low-key family guy who doesn’t take things too seriously. To hear him talk about “obsession” surprised me. Even the chill guys need to be obsessed if they want what most can’t achieve. 

This quote catalyzed a string of refocusing priories so I can be more obsessed with writing and speaking. I’ve realized that this is my unfair advantage, and I need to shift my career to capitalize on that. Step one is in motion. I’m selling my equity in one of my businesses. I’m baring down. 

Step two is to take no work for six to eight weeks while I write the first draft of my second book. I need to get obsessed. A dash of risk. A pinch of crazy. A heavy drizzle of obsession. Cook for a few months. I’m falling in love with writing. I just planned a trip for the two of us. I’ll let you know how it goes.