Curiosity and Obsession

Last Saturday we celebrated the first Release Before Ready in Guadalajara. It was an intense weekend that began with conversations about Venture Capital between Santiago and José Vielma at BBVA Spark, continued with Saturday's hackathon, and culminated with breakfast among organizers. The combination was perfect: theory about creating unicorns on one side, and the tangible practice of digital development on the other.

During our return trip to Mexico City, while analyzing what made this event fill us with so much creative energy, two words resonated constantly: Curiosity and Obsession. These concepts, two sides of the same coin, perfectly embody the Craft value we defend in our manifesto.

Curiosity manifested from the first moment, when participants presented their ideas in 30 seconds that morning. We saw that sparkle in their eyes, that initial exploration that asks "what would happen if...?" facing unknown territories or never-used tools.

Then came obsession. We observed how that initial spark transformed into something tangible during working hours, that flow state where time vanishes while someone perfects a detail that perhaps no one else will notice. Participants didn't just "make things"; they created with intention, with meticulousness, and with a personal standard that exceeds any expectation for a 12-hour event.

It's precisely at this intersection where craft comes alive: when curiosity discovers new territories and obsession transforms them into something real, tangible and meaningful.

The curiosity we saw in Guadalajara was genuine and contagious. It wasn't about following trends or jumping on the latest bandwagon, but about that authentic desire to explore and understand.

Mario arrived with a clear goal: understand how to create AI agents. He had been researching the topic but hadn't found the right moment to dive deep. During the hackathon, he didn't just create a functional agent; he explored different approaches, tested various integrations, and by the end of the day had a solid understanding of the ecosystem. His curiosity led him to experiment with tools like LangChain and integrate them with his existing knowledge.

Andrea came with an accounting problem that had been bothering her for months. Instead of looking for an existing solution, she decided to build her own AI-powered assistant. Her curiosity wasn't just technical; it was practical, focused on solving a real problem that affected her daily work.

Cristian and Ángel, two kids from preparatory school, arrived with energy and zero preconceptions about what they "should" create. Their curiosity was pure: they wanted to make a game, and they didn't let technical limitations stop them. They explored visual programming tools, experimented with game mechanics, and created something that genuinely excited them.

This type of curiosity is what drives innovation. It's not about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions and being willing to explore unknown paths.

But curiosity alone isn't enough. What we saw in Guadalajara was how that initial spark transformed into focused obsession, that state where details matter and quality becomes non-negotiable.

Mario didn't settle for making "any" agent. He spent hours refining the logic, testing different approaches, ensuring the responses were coherent and useful. His obsession with quality was evident in every interaction with his creation.

Andrea could have created a simple form that collected data, but her obsession led her to think about user experience, data validation, integration with existing systems. She wasn't just solving a problem; she was crafting a solution.

Even Cristian and Ángel, despite their young age, showed impressive obsession. They spent hours perfecting game mechanics, adjusting difficulty levels, ensuring their creation was not just functional but fun.

This obsession is what separates a quick hack from a quality product. It's that inner voice that says "this can be better" and the willingness to invest time and effort to make it happen.

What made Guadalajara's event special was seeing how curiosity and obsession fed each other. Curiosity opened doors to new possibilities, while obsession ensured those possibilities became tangible realities.

We saw attendees helping each other, sharing knowledge, collaborating on ideas that initially seemed individual. The environment fostered both exploration and execution, creating a virtuous cycle where each person's curiosity inspired others, and each person's obsession raised everyone's quality bar.

This is the essence of craft: the perfect balance between exploration and execution, between wondering "what if" and ensuring "it works well."

What excites us most is that this curiosity and obsession don't end when the event does. We've seen how participants continue developing their ideas, how they stay connected, how they continue learning and creating.

Mario has continued exploring AI agents, now with a solid foundation and clear direction. Andrea is implementing her assistant in her daily work, iterating and improving it based on real use. Cristian and Ángel are planning their next game, now with more experience and confidence.

This is the true impact of Release Before Ready: not just what's created in 12 hours, but how that experience transforms the way people approach creation and learning.

As we plan future events, we keep these two forces in mind: how to foster curiosity and how to channel obsession. We want to create spaces where people feel safe to explore, experiment and fail, but also where they're motivated to create with quality and intention.

The combination of curiosity and obsession is powerful, but it needs the right environment to flourish. That's our commitment: to continue creating spaces where these forces can meet and generate something meaningful.

The next Release Before Ready is already in planning, and we can't wait to see what new forms curiosity and obsession will take. Because at the end of the day, these are the forces that drive innovation, creation, and positive change in the world.