Is obsession the best way to achieve success?
SPOILERS FOR "WHIPLASH", IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED IT GO WATCH IT IT'S A REALLY GOOD MOVIE. In the movie "Whiplash", Andrew Niemann wants to become a legendary drummer. Not just a really good drummer, but one that will go down in history as the best of the best. He wants to become the greatest drummer of all time. To do so, he lets himself basically get consumed by the craft. He obsesses over it, pushing himself to serious mental and physical distress, dedicating his entire body and soul to drumming. He lets every other part of his life just atrophy: he cuts of his girlfriend, he cuts off his family, he cuts off even himself and his well-being! The only thing he left in his life and in his identity was drumming. However, despite how unhealthy that may have sounded, it worked. Really well I may add, it worked so well. In the climax of the movie, Niemann preforms an objectively stunning solo, impressing even his mentor and world-class judges. There's the question: Do you think this type of obsession is the best way to achieve success? Is dedicating your entire being, forfeiting and giving up each and every aspect of you in favor of your goal, the way to truly excel at your craft?