@zachpogrob
Obsession beats discipline - go all-in on your craft until you either die or get reborn.
Pain as Qualification for Leadership
Those meant to lead must first be brought to their knees. Suffering is not punishment but preparation - only through total devastation do you develop the empathy and strength required to guide others.
Decision Rule
When experiencing extreme difficulty, reframe it as qualification, not disqualification. Ask 'What is this preparing me for?' rather than 'Why is this happening to me?'
How It Works
Leadership requires understanding the full spectrum of human experience. You cannot guide others through darkness you have not navigated yourself. Pain develops capacity; comfort develops complacency.
Failure Modes
Seeking pain artificially (martyrdom)
Using future leadership as excuse to stay in suffering
Assuming all pain is meaningful preparation when some is just bad luck
Example Decision
“Entrepreneur loses everything - company fails, relationship ends, health suffers. Instead of quitting, reframes: 'If I am meant to lead people through hard times, I need to know what hard times feel like.' Uses experience as credential, not shame.”