There’s this thing that Eddy Cue said during a meeting when I worked at Apple that I keep meaning to write about. I can’t reliably quote him, but it was something like this:

The iTunes Music Store doesn’t just compete with CDs, and apps don’t just compete with other apps. Everything competes with everything.

This thought has lingered with me for over ten years.

And it’s not just money. Our most valuable resources are time and attention. Just like how we can’t re-spend $10 on something else, we can’t go back two hours to watch a different movie or split our attention between a book and a podcast. We necessarily have to make choices about what deserves our time and attention.

I am becoming more selective about what I end up giving my resources to, because I want that energy returned. Not everything does that. Doomscrolling on social media drains me, whereas a good movie energizes me.

So I’ve come to realize it isn’t just competition among all media and products—it’s also about competition between all of that and what I value.

Looking at everything through that lens, it’s easier for me to pinpoint what’s draining those resources and eliminate them so I can focus instead on what I love doing: drawing icons, writing my blog, and making software.

If you like this, you can make a one-time donation, donate monthly, or buy something from my shop.