December 09, 2025

The Long Middle - Part 1 - The Island - Why Mastery Is Lonely

34 minutes

In January 2007, Joshua Bell—one of the world's best violinists—played a $3.5 million Stradivarius in a Washington D.C. subway station. Over 1,000 people walked past. Only 7 stopped to listen. He made $32.

If you've ever felt like you're playing your heart out while everyone walks past... this episode is for you.

This is Part 1 of a 4-part series called "The Long Middle"—about that specific season in a creative life where you've mastered the skills, built the business, done everything "right"... but something still feels off.

Today's episode is about the loneliness that comes with expertise. The isolation that happens when you get really good at something and realize fewer and fewer people can see what you're actually doing.

You're not broken. You're not ungrateful. You're not alone.

You're just operating at a level where most people can't witness the craft.

IN THIS EPISODE

The Joshua Bell Experiment
Why one of the world's greatest violinists was invisible in a subway station—and what that tells us about creative loneliness.

Sarah's Email
A successful wedding photographer who's "disappearing into the work" despite doing everything right. Her story will sound familiar.

The Loneliness of Mastery
The higher you climb in your craft, the lonelier it gets. Not because you're failing—because fewer people can see what you're actually doing.

Three Types of Loneliness

Unintentional Loneliness (physical isolation)
Deliberate Loneliness (choosing not to explain yourself)
Experiential Loneliness (surrounded by people who don't speak your language)

The Taylor Guitars Story
How shooting a spray robot in a hazmat suit taught me what it feels like to be invisible at the level of expertise.

Gratitude as a Weapon
The difference between genuine gratitude and obligatory gratitude—and why "you should be grateful" has become one of the most damaging phrases in the creative industry.

The Research
Studies on senior executives, designers, and creative professionals all point to the same truth: expertise is isolating. It's documented. It's real. You're not crazy.

Witnessed vs. Consumed
The difference between 10,000 likes and one person who asks, "How did you do that?"

Rivers vs. Pools
Why fast-moving communities (Discord, social media) provide stimulation but not transformation—and what we need instead.

KEY CONCEPTS & FRAMEWORKS

Experiential Isolation at the Level of Expertise – The loneliness that comes from operating at a level where fewer people can understand what you're doing
The Seven People Who Stopped – You don't need a thousand people. You need the few who can actually witness the craft.
Counterfeit Connection – Why engagement rates and subscriber counts feel like food but provide zero nutrition
The Pool (vs. The River) – Slow, still, deep spaces where you can see your own reflection vs. fast-moving noise

RESEARCH MENTIONED

"Lonely at the Top" study on senior executives (2018)
Adobe user research – 60% of designers feel misunderstood by non-creative colleagues
Three Types of Loneliness framework – Psychological research (University of Chicago)
The Washington Post Joshua Bell experiment (2007)

QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE

"Gratitude is for gifts. It is not for labor. You don't have to be 'grateful' that the business you built with your own sweat is working."

"The higher you climb, the lonelier it gets. Not because you're broken. But because there are simply fewer people at that altitude."

"You can get 10,000 likes on a photo and still feel completely invisible. Because those people aren't witnessing you. They're consuming content."

"When you're in the Neutral Zone, you don't need a fast-moving river. You need a Still Pool."

"Sarah isn't failing. She's not depressed. She's just alone at the level she's operating."

WHAT'S NEXT

This is Part 1 of a 4-part series called "The Long Middle." Over the next three weeks, we'll explore:

Episode 41: How to recognize your people (and why creative friendship is so hard)
Episode 42: How to build community without losing your soul
Episode 43: What The Pool actually looks like when it works

If you're Joshua Bell in the subway right now—if you're doing your best work and feeling completely invisible—email me. Tell me about the work nobody sees.

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT

Lessons From A Terrible Photographer is now available as a Limited Collector's Box ($69.99).

Includes:

Signed hardcover book
Signed photo print
Field Notes notebook
Hand-typed letter on my 1920s Corona typewriter
Access to audiobook & ebook (when released)
Stickers

Standard hardback coming January 2026.

Get yours: terriblephotographer.com

CONNECT

Email: [email protected]
I respond to everything. Seriously. Tell me what bar you just let go of. Tell me about the work nobody sees.

Website: terriblephotographer.com

Instagram: @terriblephotographer

CREDITS

Music in this episode from Epidemic Sound and Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode photography provided by Benjamin Behre / Unsplash

Written, Recorded, Produced & Edited by me, Patrick Fore.

EPISODE STATS

Episode: 40
Series: The Long Middle (Part 1 of 4)
Runtime: ~35 minutes