Why do you do the work you do?
Maria Popova runs one of the most well-curated (and popular) blogs on the internet.
Ira Glass runs one of the most well-produced (and popular) podcasts in the world.
Michael Jordan was the most trusted person to take the last shot in a close game.
The Beatles are one of the most beloved bands of all time.
What do they have in common? They are driven by an absolute obsession with their craft. Maria is a voracious reader, researcher, and writer. Ira has been relentless in building a body of work. Michael forced himself to make thousands of practice shots everyday. The Beatles played shows in grungy bars every night until they were good enough to play bigger venues.
If you do what you do so that you can be famous… or because you want to make a million dollars… or because you want to have more friends… You might get what you wished for, but more likely, you’ll get none of the above.
As Ronnie Coleman puts it, “Everybody wants to be a body builder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights.”
The people who “make it” – the ones we look up to – they lift the heavy ass weights no one else is willing to lift. And they do it everyday.
If you’re not obsessed with getting better at your craft, why not go find something you can obsess over?
And so I ask again, why do you do the work you do?