More from Adam Savage

Stay obsessed. That thing you can't stop thinking about? Keep indulging it. Obsession is the better part of success. You will be great at the things that you can't not do.

AS

Adam Savage

Sarah Lawrence College Commencement 2012, 2012

13:05

Video starts at 13:05 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Midway through a rapid-fire list of life advice, Savage delivered this passionate defense of obsession as a creative virtue. Coming from a man who built his career by diving obsessively into problems — whether constructing movie props, designing robots, or testing myths on television — the advice carried particular weight. He wasn't talking about casual interest or mild curiosity, but the kind of all-consuming fascination that keeps you up at night. The things you can't stop thinking about, he argued, aren't distractions — they're signposts pointing toward your best work.

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