@zachpogrob
Obsession beats discipline - go all-in on your craft until you either die or get reborn.
Most competition is illusory because no one actually executes
Evidence
People who announce goals rarely follow through. Competitors attend weddings, take vacations, maintain balance. Very few are genuinely all-in. The serious players are a tiny fraction of the total announced competitors.
Implication
Do not be intimidated by market size or established players. Your only real competition is other obsessives, and there are not many. Consistency and intensity beat talent in a world of inconsistent talented people.
Counter Belief
Competition is real and intelligent. Underestimating competitors is how startups fail. Many people work very hard even if not visibly. Market dynamics matter beyond individual effort.
Example Application
Founder sees crowded market and almost does not enter. Realizes established players are large companies with bureaucracy and employees who go home at 5pm. Enters market and outworks everyone.