The beauty of obsession

From novice to master

“The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.” - Francis Bacon

Beauty manifests in various forms. Today, I'd like to delve into a specific type of beauty: the profound appreciation one develops for a subject when progressing through its skill levels. This feeling of appreciation is multi-layered and reveals itself gradually over time. It’s the awe you experience when encountering something new in a skill you already have—whether by actively trying to improve or simply reflecting. As you deepen your familiarity with a subject, you traverse these layers, reaching new epiphanies of the inherent beauty of the subject itself. Imagine the joy of standing on a skateboard for the first time, then learning how to go down a half-pipe, and finally learning a kickflip. Similarly, if you are lucky enough to have learned a second language, reminisce about the first words you learned, the first tiny conversation you had, and then the first book you read in that language. It is a process that starts simply but never ends. 

Or consider chess, for example. As a novice, unaware of the rules, the beauty of chess lies in discovering the different pieces and learning their movements. You immerse yourself in a new, enjoyable game. A beginner is amazed by the complexity of learning the possible moves and the capabilities of each piece. As time passes, the rules become second nature, integrated into your understanding of the game. Once you’ve understood and internalized the roles of each piece, it becomes impossible to recapture the initial awe you felt. At the same time, this new level of understanding shifts your perspective, allowing you to appreciate different, more nuanced aspects of the game. You begin noticing patterns for when to move a piece and capture one from your opponent. As your expertise grows, you master various openings and positional play. Strategic counters to common tactics become second nature. As you become more proficient, you start seeing openings that less skilled players miss. Your perspective on the game has fundamentally changed and it will never revert to its original state. Though you can still rationally understand the perspective of someone unfamiliar with the pieces, you can no longer feel it emotionally. You’ve left the novice’s awe behind, never to fully regain it again. Sometimes, it flickers back—maybe after a long hiatus, or when you reminisce about the fond memories of earlier days. However, at the same time you gain a new appreciation, a more fundamental connection to your passion that elevates you to new levels. 

This journey applies not only to games like chess, but also to skills in other areas like business, sports, and even relationships. If you are a founder making your first pitch to an investor, you might say things only a novice would say. With experience, you will be able to present your pitch naturally and put your focus on more nuanced parts of the conversation. You will lose the sense of novelty for most aspects of investor conversations. However, you will never stop discovering new tactics or finding weaknesses to improve upon. You will never be perfect and that’s beautiful.

Most meaningful pursuits in life are complex enough that no one can fully master them in a single lifetime. Due to this inherent infinite nature of progression, learning a new skill opens up vast possibilities for enjoyment. I have a propensity to lose myself in both my job and my hobbies. I have a natural obsession about the topics I focus on and I love seeing it in others. Obsessions can have a negative connotation but I think they are often healthy if they’re for a career you love or a hobby you enjoy. It gives life purpose and fulfillment. Fully focusing on an activity and getting into the flow state is one of the best feelings in existence. While full mastery is not an option, you will feel at home with your obsession. Whenever I go back to playing handball, the sport I grew up playing, I notice a tremendous surge in happiness. Whenever I start working on my company I notice that the hunger within me is being fed. I experience handball and startups on a fundamentally different level than when I first started but the feeling of familiarity will never perish. 

So now you might be wondering how to find your obsession if you do not have one already. Or rather, what should you try out next? I’m not here to tell you the answer to that question. Nothing in life resonates the same way with everyone. One person is able to talk about video games all day, while another might be fascinated by old literature. We all have different tastes and expertise in various areas. One important caveat, however: learning something new doesn’t mean you have to become a master at it. Sometimes, people lose interest at a certain stage and, at the same time, lose their appreciation. Their initial awe fades, and they fail to replenish it. Some people like trying many new passions, while others enjoy going deep on just one topic. Generalists enjoy exploring the upper levels, finding joy in the novelty of diverse areas. They prefer breadth over depth, opting to explore new topics rather than delving deeply into a single one. Specialists, on the other hand, relish deep understanding in their chosen fields and thrive in the intimacy of their mastery. The realization of whether you prefer being a generalist or a specialist is one of the most fundamental factors you can use to shape your career the right way. Whatever you choose to learn, cherish the epiphanies that emerge as you reach new levels of understanding—they are among life’s purest joys, and you can actively seek them out.

The journey from a novice to a master is the backbone of human experience. On your way from novice to master, you accumulate so many beautiful memories, so much beautiful context. With each expansion of knowledge, your perspective shifts slightly until a sudden epiphany puts new pieces into place. You see everything in a new light and often find it impossible to view your passions as you once did. A Grandmaster chess player looks at the board differently than a casual player. A professional football player sees small mistakes that an average viewer misses. Reaching the first level of epiphany is often simple and can be done in a few minutes or hours. However, the more you progress, the harder it becomes to achieve another breakthrough. 

Most meaningful pursuits in life are complex enough that no single person could come to fully understand them in a single lifetime. These beautiful complexities teach us that learning new things opens enormous possibilities for our enjoyment. Find your obsessions. Hone them, relish them, and tell the world what you experience.