To the obsessed,

Here's your weekly Ten Bullets. A list of ideas I can't stop thinking about- to help you build companies, make content, and find your life's work.

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1. On shadow careers:

"Sometimes, when we're terrified of embracing our true calling, we'll pursue a shadow calling instead. That shadow career is a metaphor for our real career. Its shape is similar, its contours feel tantalizingly the same. But a shadow career entails no real risk.

If we fail at a shadow career, the consequences are meaningless to us.

Are you pursuing a shadow career?

Are you getting your Ph.D. in Elizabethan studies because you're afraid to write the tragedies and comedies that you know you have inside you? Are you living the drugs-and-booze half of the musician's life, without actually writing the music? Are you working in a support capacity for an innovator because you're afraid to risk becoming an innovator yourself?

If you're dissatisfied with your current life, ask yourself what your current life is a metaphor for."

- Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro​

This is a great, great book for any one who feels they're capable of extreme greatness, but not living up to that potential.

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2. On bitterness:

“Before I had the podcast, I was wistful that I had the raw material to work very hard at things, and I never had a pursuit that I could have applied it to. There was nothing- I remember the first time I heard Peterson say - work as hard as you can at one thing and see what happens."

- Chris Williamson, Modern Wisdom Podcast ft. Alex Hormozi​

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3. On the recipe:

"Enough courage to get started + enough sense to focus on something you’re naturally suited for + enough persistence to stay in the game long enough to catch a few lucky breaks + a lot of hard work. There’s your recipe."

- James Clear​

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4. On creating what only you can:

"Is there an idea for a show that you feel only you can do? Your show should reflect who you are, your interests, and your style. You will attract others to it because it is your vision, and no one else can realize it better than you. Consider this: Steve Hillenburg [creator of Spongebob] had a background in marine biology. Who else but Steve, with his incredible talent for storytelling and animation as well as his fascination with and knowledge of marine life, could come up with SpongeBob and all those other great underwater characters? Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, used his own family as models and inspiration for his hit show (yes, Homer was his dad’s name). Not quite sure where to start? Close your eyes and envision turning to an animated show on TV or the Internet that you’ve never seen before but that makes you stop and think, 'This has me written all over it.'"

- Joe Murray (creator of Rocko's Modern Life), Creating Animated Cartoons​

Replace 'animated show' with whatever you're working on.

What has 'you' written all over it?

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5. On obsession:

You'll know you're obsessed when you find something you can't turn off. And, you notice it everywhere.

Marketers study every ad.

Writers see every word.

Singers hear every note.

Once you see your obsession, you can't unsee it.

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6. On intense people:

Intense people are the best to be around. It's not about hard work, or extreme energy. It's about presence. No moment is wasted. Even a casual hang has an undertone of seriousness, that what we're doing- our lives, our goals, our ambitions, truly matter- and shouldn't be ignored. They don't just get to the point- the point is where they live. Once you surround yourself with these people, there's a clear gap between them, and everyone else. And you walk away realizing how much of life you wasted, not living full-force.

[Twitter]

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7. On working with your demons:

"Don't fight your demons. Your demons are here to teach you lessons. Sit down with your demons and have a drink and a chat and learn their names and talk about the burns on their fingers and scratches on their ankles. Some of them are very nice."

- Charles Bukowski (maybe misattributed, still a great quote)

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8. On building a creative company:

"I can sketch a mock up of a graphic / garment / build out / storefront / campaign and the team make it real life way better than I ever could if I put all my effort and time for months into it. That’s my favorite part of growth."

- George Heaton​

The goal is to build a team that can build something greater than you ever could alone.

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9. On reading:

"The point of reading is to spark your own creativity, and to spark your own thoughts. So, it's almost like you're starting a fire in your brain. A really good book has to be read slowly. If you're reading books quickly, it's like lifting weights that are too light"

- Naval Ravikant​

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10. On pain:

"Machiavelli had his most productive period after being tortured on the rack then moving to the country side."

- Ryan Peterson (Founder of Flexport)

Don't let a good crisis go to waste.

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PS- Obsession merch is coming soon. Reply to this email with what products or designs you'd want to see.

More will say 'Obsessed' vs. 'Follow Obsession.' But the flag (🏴) will definitely be in there.

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If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to an obsessed friend and tell them which bullet they'd love. 🏴

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To read the archive, click here.

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Stay obsessed,

Zach 🏴

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