Obsession, Drive, and the Fighter’s Mentality:

There are a lot of talented people in the world. That’s a given. But there are also plenty of people who obsess over things, have addictive personalities, or say, “I wish I could do such-and-such.”

The truth is, most of us can do almost anything we want if we’re willing to put in the time. Those with addictive personalities, like me, need to accept that trait and channel it in the right direction. Those with obsessive tendencies, also like me, should take what they fixate on and turn it into a career. And no, obsessing over an ex doesn’t count unless you’re somehow helping their career and they’ve agreed to it.

If you often say, “I wish I knew how to work on cars,” or “I wish I could dance,” or “I wish I were a writer or an actor,” stop wishing. Start learning. Educate yourself in whatever it is you want to do. That’s what I still do to this day.

Find something you love, something you’ve always wanted to do, and either do it or learn how. I don’t believe anyone can leave a lasting, positive mark doing something they don’t love. I had to learn how to do what I truly wanted for a living, and it changed everything.

You don’t need to be naturally gifted to succeed. B-level obsession, drive, and work ethic will always beat A-level talent with poor discipline. Keep that in mind when you’re trying to rise above the rest. Every time I’m not working, I know someone else is. That thought keeps me going.

I’m not naturally gifted at anything beyond focus. Everything else has come from hard work, planning, and an unyielding mentality. Call it a fighter’s mindset. Adopt one. Outwork your competition. That’s how you leave your mark before you’re gone.

If you have talent on top of that, great. You might find yourself at the top of the food chain. If not, you’ll still end up doing what you love for a living.

— C. R. Buchanan