In this Instagram video, the authors Ryan Holiday and Robert Greene discuss the true sense of fulfillment that comes from sinking your focus into a long-term book project instead of seeking a splashy insta win.

Robert Greene is best known for The 48 Laws of Power a book first published in 1998 that could easily be considered a mega cult classic.

And Ryan Holiday is the author of The Obstacle is the Way and Perennial Seller, among many other bestsellers.

The two authors go way back. Greene was in fact Holiday’s mentor, so he had a lot to say about the career path Holiday chose, which he witnessed every step of the way. Instead of pursuing flashier career moves–climbing the ladder to CEO, or capitalizing on his influencer status–Holiday instead invested his time and effort into creating books that will be read for decades to come. The two agreed that the satisfaction and sense of fulfillment that come from creating this kind of book trumps just about everything else. Ryan Holiday, BTW, is running an empire. He’s not JUST a quiet author collecting royalties.

Our culture promotes instant gratification. We’re built for that impulse. Writing a book that matters, taking the time to do that well, requires that you wait a bit for a much bigger reward.