An Unhealthy Obsession

People who create extraordinary things are obsessed. The most renowned chefs don’t have a casual relationship with food. They don’t pigeonhole their work into a 9 to 5 schedule. They constantly ruminate on the details, lose sleep in pursuit of new ideas, and are consumed by their craft. 

This pursuit of excellence has a trade-off. Something has to give. It might be health, personal relationships, or family. If they weren’t willing to let any of these suffer, they wouldn’t be in the spot they are—someone willing to make the sacrifice would be. 

The important thing is not to get caught up in the illusion that being one of these people is better than not (some days I feel like I want to be one of these people, others I’m certain I don’t), or that you can be one of these people and still live a balanced life. You pay the cost either way. As with most things, what you’re willing to give up will determine how far you can go in any one direction.

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I made espresso on a tiny Japanese truck for my friend's open house, here's a peek behind the scenes: