To do great work one must get going before it's late.
Great work requires
time
in
flow
. Frequently beginners struggle to get into flow. So much that they will take the flow whenever it comes, even if it arrives too late.
When is too late for flow? Too close to
bedtime
. Because although great work requires much time in flow, it requires
sleep
as well.
If one is a young, healthy
mother fucker
then they trade sleep for flow as long as they realize that such
bargain
will not remain a good deal forever.
I've watched many of my cohorts fall over the years, and it's never been for a lack of
passion
. Rather it was their dependency on passion that led to their downfall.
When one is passionate, they are willing to sacrifice much for their passion. If one is not wise (or young and strong enough) to bare the consequences of their sacrifices then one day they will fall.
In
college
almost everybody I knew wanted to
paint
or
draw
; write books or record an album. Since then I've seen almost all of them fall one by one. For they were driven by passion and made a bargain they could not afford.
And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else desire power.