“Obsession will beat talent every time. You got all the talent in the world, but are you obsessed?”
​​​— Hustle (2022)

This quote guided me through four intense months of MCAT studying. It was easy to feel like maybe I just didn’t have the talent—that I wasn’t built to tackle a 7.5-hour exam, that it was simply beyond my capabilities.

Our minds are quick to support these doubts. We start listing all the prerequisites we haven’t taken, all the students who have, all the New York Times articles* we haven’t read, and all the students who have. The comparisons become endless, and the more we focus on what we lack, the deeper we sink into the belief that we’re not enough.

Once we start down this path, it’s easy to lose control of our thoughts and spiral into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whatever we believe about ourselves has a way of manifesting in reality. The more we convince ourselves that we’re not capable, the more our actions—or inactions—begin to reflect that belief.

However, we’ve got it wrong. Success isn’t just a measure of innate talent—sure, there’s some degree of talent involved, but the larger, and often dominating, force comes from our level of obsession.

When we’re truly obsessed, it’s all we can think about. We’re constantly strategizing, adapting, and pushing forward because we’re too obsessed to admit defeat—we can’t. Obsession fuels persistence, and persistence breaks down barriers that talent alone might not overcome.

In fact, I’d argue that what we often call “innate talent” is really the result of past obsessions. When we’re so deeply committed to overcoming a challenge, we put in enough hours, passion, and effort that we end up developing talent in the process. It’s the cumulative effect of relentless focus and drive that shapes our abilities, often transforming what once felt impossible into something within our grasp.

Whether your goals are rooted in academia or another walk of life, remember that success isn’t about innate talent but rather the level of passion and commitment we bring to our pursuits.

It’s a reminder that our potential is limitless when we are truly dedicated.


*A famously recommended strategy for a high score.