"تعصب شامل تشدید تلاش شما می‌شود وقتی هدف خود را فراموش کرده‌اید"

Losing sight of the original goal and relentlessly pushing forward—that's what fanaticism is all about. Imagine you’re running full speed, but you’ve got no idea where the finish line is. You're just running because, well, you’re running.

This idea can be traced back to George Santayana, a philosopher and writer. He was all about examining why people do what they do. He saw how people could get so caught up in the act of doing something that they totally forgot why they started in the first place. Think of a car stuck in the mud—it’s revving its engine like crazy, but it’s not going anywhere. All that effort, no progress.

Take an example from the business world. Picture a company that started with the goal of making affordable, quality shoes for kids. As time goes on, they get obsessed with beating competitors. They start focusing on marketing gimmicks, launching new products every month, and expanding into unrelated areas. They’re working harder than ever, but they've lost sight of their original mission—making great shoes for kids. All their effort and resources are spent, but they're not achieving what they initially set out to do.

So, how do you make sure you’re not just spinning your wheels? First, regularly revisit your goals. Ask yourself why you started this journey. It’s not about never changing direction, but keeping your original aim in sight. Sometimes you need to adapt, but don’t forget the core of why you began.

Secondly, keep things simple. Complexity often leads to confusion. When you start layering too many objectives on top of each other, you can lose your way. Prioritize what's truly important and focus your energy there.

Imagine you’re planning a big trip with friends. You all decide you want to go hiking in the mountains because you love nature and want to disconnect. But as the planning goes on, someone suggests visiting a theme park nearby, another wants to check out the local nightlife, and soon you’re booking city tours. By the end, you’re so busy planning activities that you’ve barely left time for the hike. You’ve forgotten the main reason for the trip—connecting with nature and each other.

Or think about your high school friend who always wanted to be a writer. He starts a blog, gets a few followers, but then sees other bloggers making money through endorsements and sponsored posts. He starts chasing those deals, writing content to attract sponsors rather than from his heart. Soon his blog is just a series of ads, and he’s lost the joy of writing. His original aim—to share his stories and connect with readers—is forgotten.

So, next time you find yourself working harder and harder, take a breath. Ask yourself: why did you start? Are you still on the path to your original goal, or are you just running because you think that’s what you should be doing? Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop, reassess, and remember your aim.

Keep the big picture in mind. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, but don’t let that overshadow your initial vision. Balancing effort with purpose—not just one or the other—is the key to avoiding the trap of fanaticism.