On the Road to Greatness, NEVER Apologize for These 2 Things

This one’s for the obsessed. 

I’ve got a long, long way to go before I get anywhere close to what I consider “greatness” - at least where my potential is concerned. But I’m absolutely, fanatically, maniacally obsessed with getting there, and I’m not going to apologize for that anymore.

If you’re one of the obsessed too, you shouldn’t apologize for your obsession either.

There are some of us psychos out there who refuse to leave the gym while we still have 5% left. We’re there on our birthdays, holidays, it doesn’t matter. 

We’re there at the squat rack, training legs well after midnight, not caring about whether anyone’s capturing it for Insta or not.

There are some of us who choose to read a book instead of starting a new series on TV…

Who finish working their 9-5 and then start working on their dream from 5-midnight.

We’re the ones you see learning from - and taking notes on - audiobooks on the subway or while driving down the street instead of listening to trash radio or negative, pessimistic news programs.

Not everyone has to be obsessed like this - it’s just how I choose to live my life. 

Obsession makes my life better. It makes me feel something, where before there was nothing.

For me, it’s about either chasing obsession or giving in to death. Maybe not physical death, but psychological death - feeling dead inside, decades before I actually die on the outside.

I’ve stopped apologizing for this level of obsession, and you should too. If you’re one of the obsessed.

Again, you don’t have to be. 

My life isn’t “better” or more “elevated” just because I’ve chosen to dedicate my life to mastery and neverending learning, instead of passive consumption and deferred dreams.

This is just the choice I made, and it’s one that most people will never understand.

People are going to misunderstand you as well, which is why you need to stand firm in your obsession and never give way for even an instant. 

The moment you even ask yourself, “What if my obsession is making other people uncomfortable?” is the moment you start down the path toward death.

Second, you should never, ever, and I mean under no circumstances apologize for being successful. For making it. For doing well in life, and for improving your own situation.

Again, people will condemn you for it, strange as that sounds, and they won’t want you to change. Because when you change, it calls into question why they haven’t. 

Don’t dim your own light so that others can feel comfortable around you. Sure, don’t go around being all obnoxious about it, but don’t downplay your achievements and your commitment either.

You’ve earned the right to speak like a winner.

You’ve earned the right to tell people about what you’ve done, and how hard you had to fight to make it happen.

Never apologize for being successful. 

Obsession is a rare gift, and harnessing it will make more you successful than virtually anything else you could possibly do. You need to lean into that if you want to make big moves forward.

Again, most people will not understand.

There’s no need to alienate the average people in your life, but also don’t go out of your way to make them feel like you’re not a threat to them and the mediocrity they stand for.

That might have been a little harsh. Maybe I’m getting a little carried away. But I feel strongly about this shit.

Having a massive challenge in front of me, an intensely meaningful project that I’m pursuing with everything I have within me…elevates the quality of my entire life.

It makes me feel more alive than anything I’ve ever tried to replace it with.

Success feels fucking awesome. Don’t let anyone ever convince you otherwise. And I think the “sweet spot” is about balancing the appreciation and gratitude for how far you’ve come already, with the burning desire to achieve even more. 

The rest of the world doesn’t have to understand. You’re not doing it for “everybody.” You’re primarily doing it for yourself.

You’re not even doing it to “get back” at the people who didn’t or don’t believe in you. Fuck them. They’re nothing. 

Remember, hate never comes from above. It comes from the people who could never do what you’ve done.

If I may close with one extremely important piece of advice, it’s this: 

Don’t do it for the people who don’t want you to win - do it for the people who believe. 

All the best,

Matt Karamazov

P.S. I’m opening up some additional spots for personal mentoring, at a discounted rate, on the condition that I can use your personal transformation as a case study that I can use in my promotional material later on.

You’d be working closely with me 1-1 to develop your focus, strengthen your reading/learning habit, and dial in your discipline. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, hit reply or send me an email. DM me on Instagram too, if you’d like.

Let’s move some mountains :)