A little obsession is a good thing

• Sometimes you have to become obsessive about something in order to make any headway.

Years ago I became obsessive about comics and did nothing but read and make comics for two years. In the end, I had two complete graphic novels that have made me pver $150,000 between them.

Then, I became obsessive about marketing. I read every book about marketing, tried every tactic, and took every course on it for two years. In the end, I became an expert at building mailing lists and running marketing campaigns, now doing it for hundreds of other people.

Then, I became obsessive about podcasts, and did recorded and listened to podcasts obsesively for 2 years. I ended up recording over 150 episodes in 18 months, and people still download it in droves to this day, even though I havent updated it since November of 2017.

Then it was shows, and I went to 100 shows in three years, until I knew shows like the back of my hand, and could make a living on shows alone. Now I get guested at shows and asked to speak all ober the country, all from obsessing about shows for years, and doing over 60 panels and workshops during that time. I have never been hired to work at a big company. All my headway with show organizers is from being there and being a draw.

Then it was Kickstarter, and I ran four big campaigns in 12 months, leading to my Kickstarter breakthrough of a $27k campaign in 2017, after being only a middling Kickstarter success before then.

Then, it was books. I did nothing but write and read novels for two years. In the end I wrote 20 novels in 20 months, and what I think are my best books ever coming from my last two books.

A little obsession goes a little way. Once I broke through I was able to return to do thing in more moderation, but I needed that intense focus to get there.

I have still created a ton of comics after my obsession period, including my two most successful comics ever. I still do marketing for people and myself, but in nowhere near the all consuming manner that I once did.

Now, people ask me to create comics with them because of my stellar reputation, build during that obsessive period.

I still do 20+ shows a year. I still write a lot of books.

However, that obsessive period of focusing one one thing let me solidify the muscle memory to do them at a high level for a long time after it is over.

Yes, it makes other things suffer. People thought I abandoned comics for a long time because I was focused exclusively on books for a while, but now…look…new comics coming out again

If it’s important, and you want to make headway, often you gotta be a little obsessive to drown own the noise and break through.

More importantly that you doing the work, an obssessive period is long enough that it sticks it people’s heads how hard you work, and they never forget it, which is just as good as the slill you gained.

My goal, every time, is how can I do 10 years of work in 2 years. That is the basis for my obsessive periods.

The hardest part is mixing the obsession with the rest of life, but it is that focused obsession over long periods of time that is responsible for a large portion of my rapid success.

It better be worth it, though. Every obsessive period started with the idea of breaking through a hundred levels quickly.

Those obsessive episodes nearly broke me every time, but over a short time, we are able to accomplish a lot if we devote and outmoded amount of effort to it.

You can’t do it forever, but in short bursts, a little obsession can be a good thing.