There's a few things I'm itching to talk about.

MOZART
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‍Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was different from your average music child prodigy. Instead of being naturally musically inclined, he worked tirelessly to understand and master the craft. His father noticed Mozart’s interest at a young age and endlessly fed his curiosity. He taught Mozart all the fundamentals of music and surrounded him with talented music composers in Europe. By the time Mozart was six years old, he had already composed his first symphony.

As Mozart grew older, his love of music intensified. Mozart created operas, concertos, symphonies, and sonatas that shaped classical music as we know it. In his short thirty-five years of life, he composed more than 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of Western music. How did he find the time to master his craft and create so many legendary works? Well, the secret lies in his daily routine. In a letter to his sister written in 1782, Mozart outlines a typical day in his life:

“At six o’clock in the morning I have my hair dressed, and have finished my toilet by seven o’clock. I write till nine. From nine to one I give lessons. I then dine, unless I am invited out, when dinner is usually at two o’clock, sometimes at three, as it was today, and will be tomorrow at Countess Zichi’s and Countess Thun’s. I cannot begin to work before five or six o’clock in the evening, and I am often prevented doing so by some concert; otherwise I write till nine o’clock. I then go to my dear Constanze, though our pleasure in meeting is frequently embittered by the unkind speeches of her mother, which I will explain to my father in my next letter. Thence comes my wish to liberate and rescue her as soon as possible. At half-past ten or eleven I go home, but this depends on the mother’s humor, or on my patience in bearing it. Owing to the number of concerts, and also the uncertainty whether I may not be summoned to one place or another, I cannot rely on my evening writing, so it is my custom (especially when I come home early) to write for a time before going to bed. I often sit up writing till one, and rise again at six.”

This letter was one of many written accounts of Mozart’s rigorous daily routine. On average, he spent twelve hours a day engulfed in music. By the time he was twenty-eight years old, his hands were deformed because of all the hours he dedicated to practicing, studying, performing, teaching, and composing. Mozart was obsessed, often to the detriment of his health and social life. He willingly worked harder than most creators to become a master. Mozart was a well-rounded musician who wrote compositions for all instruments in all combinations. “People err who think my art comes easily to me,” he wrote to a friend. “I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times.”

Mozart’s life was filled with pain and turmoil, but his love of music never wavered. He continued to compose and perform, even on his deathbed. As a result of his obsession, he left a legacy of some of the most beautiful and influential music in history. We remember him as one of the greatest composers of all time.

‍BALANCING ACT

‍You will rarely find a legendary creator who wasn’t obsessed. When someone is obsessed with something, it takes up all of their time. Imagine how talented a pianist would be if they practiced for four hours a day. After years of practice, they would be able to play complex pieces and execute challenging compositions with precision. They would effortlessly convey emotions comfortably and confidently in front of large audiences.

Now, that’s the after-effect of four hours of practice a day. Mozart practiced twelve hours a day. That’s three of this imaginary pianist’s lives packed into one person. That’s the power of obsession. It unlocks your ability to give your craft the accumulation of multiple lives. When people say that someone’s talents are ahead of their time, it’s usually a result of them being so deeply passionate about their idea, craft, or pursuit that they find themselves completely immersed in it for a significant period. The combination of curiosity and time commitment enables them to explore every element and push the boundaries of what’s humanly possible.

While obsession can be a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, the dangers of obsession occur when we push ourselves too far. It can result in deteriorating your health, social life, and even your creativity. It can lead to creative burnout, a mental state where you lack the energy, motivation, and inspiration to do anything. To avoid this state, you have to be aware of your limits and take breaks to give your mind and body what it needs to rejuvenate. Writer Audre Lorde wrote extensively about the importance of self-care and rest to prevent creative burnout, stating that “caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” Also, obsession can cause you to neglect other important areas of life. For example, Michael Jackson dedicated his entire life to his craft. His intense focus on music led him to neglect his physical health, have distant relationships with loved ones, and regret missing out on his childhood.

‍THE PRICE OF OBSESSION

‍It’s crucial to be aware of the upsides and downsides of obsession because it comes at a price. You can’t buy the benefits of obsession with money. You pay for it with your focus. Your level of obsession is the accumulation of time you spend laser-focused on your craft. When you commit to focusing on becoming a master for hours a day, you drastically increase your odds of accomplishing your goals. A proverb illustrates this well: “If a hungry fox chases two rabbits, both will escape.”

‍OPPORTUNITY COST

‍In microeconomics, there’s a concept called opportunity cost. The opportunity cost is the cost of your choices. Each choice you make costs you all the other options you didn’t choose. For example, if you go to the movies, you cannot spend the money you spent on the movie ticket on something else. Time is also a factor. You could’ve spent those two hours reading a book, bonding with your mom, or relaxing in bed.

As we navigate our lives, we perpetually transact value. You’re not constantly spending money, but you’re always spending time. Right now, you’re reading this book at the cost of reading someone else’s book. The value you’re getting from the time you spend reading this book is what you gain in exchange for the opportunity cost of everything else you could’ve been doing. Thank you for your time.

The good news is that reading this book is time spent on your craft. It’s leveling up your obsession. You have to figure out what level you’re comfortable with. Right now, you could be grabbing something to eat, exercising, or spending time with your loved ones. That’s what you’re sacrificing right now to obsess over your craft.

Before you drop my book and run to spend time with your family, let me remind you that you need to find your balance. You can’t spend all your time eating, in the gym, or with your family. You have to take this currency and strategize how you want to spend the 86,400 seconds you get each day. Some creators are comfortable with straying into the deep end of obsession, stealing them away from everything else. Constanze Mozart was Wolfgang Mozart’s wife and loyal companion until he died in 1791. In the letter he sent to his sister above, he mentioned that he only spent two hours with her a day. That’s twelve hours with music and two hours with the love of his life. You need to find your balance. Is reading this book right now worth it? How much do you want your craft to bleed into your personal life? Find that line, and promise yourself that you’ll never cross it.

‍BALANCE

‍Beyoncé is an undeniable creative genius. There aren’t enough pages in this book to go into the depths of what makes her a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. My personal experience at her Renaissance tour offered a live testament to creativity in its purest form.

Her behind-the-scenes documentary solidified everything I felt. She revealed how she leveraged all the resources at her disposal to amplify her creative vision. Every single detail of her concert was meticulously considered.

She spent four years developing her tour. She crafted a vision and message she wanted to share with the world and brought together a team of creators to help her bring it to life. She inspired them to transcend their perceived limits.

She iterated on hundreds of stage designs, lighting arrangements, and visual elements to create an environment that encapsulated her trailblazing music. Each show’s attire was a bold fashion statement. When she took the stage, she commanded the audience’s attention. Her blend of choreography and angelic voice was surreal. She showcased what a master performer looked like.

This is the level of obsession it takes to solidify your essence as a creative genius. But there’s one more thing that makes Beyoncé special. One of the aspects of Beyoncé that I admire most is that in all of her greatness as a creator, she managed to maintain an equally great relationship with her family. She found balance. If Beyoncé, the Queen Bee, can find balance in all she accomplishes, so can you.

‍YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK

‍When people are obsessed over their craft, it’s what they think and talk about all day. They can’t get it out of their head. They’re constantly processing how their art relates to the ever-changing world around them. Eventually, they become their thoughts. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “You become what you think about all day long.” It’s why you can’t discuss Jazz without talking about Miles Davis, Pop Art without Andy Warhol, or basketball without Michael Jordan. These creators’ obsession with their craft made them synonymous with it.

You can be successful in your field without being obsessed. But some creators want more than success. They want to leave a mark on the craft as a whole for generations to come. If you want to go down in history as a legend in your field, you must be deeply obsessed. You may live a personal life of hell, and you may not even live to see the fruits of your labor, but you will have a human experience like no other. You will achieve depths in your craft that humans won’t experience for decades to come. You will truly fall in love with your craft to the point where you’ll be lying on your deathbed, happily creating your last creation.