Issue No. 86

The world is a noisy place. Step outside your door, and you’re greeted by the hum of engines, chatter of people, and clatter of machines. Go back inside, and the noise persists—notifications, messages, calls, and social media updates. Distractions are everywhere, constantly vying for your attention.

Have you ever wondered how platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube make money? A staggering 98% of their revenue comes from ad placements, monetizing your attention. Your phone, computer, shopping malls, and even the streets all compete to capture your focus. The business world thrives on attention—whether it’s selling $10 socks or closing million-dollar deals. After over a century of refining advertising techniques, companies have perfected attention-grabbing tactics, often without you realizing it. Some apps even track conversations or messages to build detailed profiles for targeted ads. I once talked with a friend about visiting Thailand, and the next day, travel ads for Thailand flooded my feed. It felt almost magical—until I realized it wasn’t.

Digital distraction has become my greatest adversary, especially since my work revolves around the digital space. I might open YouTube for a specific tutorial, only to get pulled into an endless stream of enticing thumbnails. Before I know it, I’ve spent an hour watching Naruto fight scenes or reaction videos of audiences enjoying Marvel movies. The content is endless.

But is all this stimulation beneficial? What if you stripped away everything that doesn’t directly support your life goals? You might think, “I’d be left with nothing to do.” In reality, you’d be left with something invaluable—time. Time to invest in what truly matters: family, relationships, personal growth, and long-term dreams. I often wonder what dreams I’ve sacrificed after spending four hours scrolling through Instagram reels. That lost time is borrowed from the future—and it’s non-refundable.

Everything we do comes with a cost. Some costs are immediate, while others compound over time. Miss a school deadline? You get a lower grade—instant feedback. Eat greasy burgers and fries? The results might not show right away, but eventually, you’ll wonder where the extra weight came from.

In a world full of distractions, how can you focus? How can you eliminate the time-wasters silently killing your dreams? It all starts with defining your goals. What do you want to achieve in the next few years? Publish a book? Start a business? Move to another country? Get married? Land a new job? Clarity is power.

Once you know what you want, strip away what doesn’t align with those goals:

• If networking events don’t benefit your business, why attend them?

• If reading similar books won’t help you finish writing your novel, why bother?

• If watching the news doesn’t enhance your intelligence or productivity, why consume it?

• If eating unhealthy food undermines your fitness goals, why indulge?

• If partying every weekend leaves you drained and unfulfilled, why keep going?

Your attention is your most valuable asset. The world is designed to steal it, monetize it, and leave you feeling empty. But you can take back control. Decide where your energy goes. Every decision, no matter how small, is either moving you closer to your dreams—or further away.

Silence the noise. Guard your focus like your life depends on it—because it does. Reclaim your time, pursue what matters, and let nothing stand in your way. Your future is calling—don’t let distractions drown it out.

Until next week,