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FinanceIs Monomania Necessary for Success?
Monomania – mon·o·ma·ni·a (mŏn’ə-mā’nē-ə, -mān’yə) n.
1. Pathological obsession with one idea or subject.
2. Intent concentration on or exaggerated enthusiasm for a single subject or idea.
Reading that definition makes me think, do all successful people share this trait? Is monomania a necessary component to becoming a successful person? Monomania doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as passion and on psychological terms the difference can be very subtle and difficult to recognize.
If you look at certain successful athletes, business leaders, scientists, or historical figures you will probably come across some monomaniacal tendencies. It is this obsession with that single subject or idea that sets these people apart and makes them successful.
Tiger Woods became the best golfer in the world because he has devoted his entire life to the game. What really sets Woods apart is how he practices. His practice routine is merciless. “Other players may outplay me from time to time, but they’ll never outwork me.”, Woods writes in his book, How I Play Golf. Woods’ monomaniacal approach to golf is what sets him far apart from the competition.
Mozart famously began composing symphonies as an eight-year-old. His achievements were the result of tremendously hard work. Mozart is known for his is enormous output of more than six hundred compositions. These compositions are widely acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music.
The list of monomanicial people could continue on. Just look at business poineers like Jobs, Gates, or Cuban; military commanders like Alexander the Great or Napoleon; mathematicians like Euler or Galileo.
When determining if monomania leads to success it depends on what your definition of success is. What does success mean to you? Does it mean lots of money, fame, or power? Perhaps success means something less tangible like happiness and love or more physiological like health?
How does this affect your life? Is the stress detrimental for people who are obsessed with a single idea?
Conversely, what if you don’t have goals? Does that have a similar adverse effect on your health? Once your goals are gone, then what? The thing I am most afraid of is once I hit my goal, what do I do next?
My personal monomania doesn’t focus solely on health – although that is a component of it. My monomania focuses around a triumvirate of happiness, health, and financial security.
I wasn’t always this focus on my goal. In fact, it wasn’t until the last few years that I really became focused like a laser beam. And I must say, I have never felt more alive in my life. It’s a great feeling once you find something you are truly passionate about. Perhaps that is the point of this article. Whether it is the perfect golf swing or a composing a symphony, you need to keep searching until you find that one thing that you become monomaniacal about.
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