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The battle for your attention is one that cannot be won easily. Companies are constantly competing for consumer attention, and this is resulting in an ever-increasing amount of content and advertisements being created to capture it. This battle for attention can be detrimental to consumers, as it can be overwhelming and lead to decision fatigue.

There is no easy way to combat this, as companies are only going to continue to create more content in an effort to stand out from the competition. Consumers need to be aware of this and take steps to limit their exposure to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

You have so many options to choose from, and it can be difficult to know what is right for you. It’s important to be mindful of how much time you’re spending on consuming content, and to make sure you’re taking breaks.

The day is 24 hours. You would do well getting 8 hours of sleep. Leaving you 16 hours. How do you spend those 16 hours?

Prioritize activities that will benefit you in the long run. Consider investing in yourself, setting aside time for hobbies, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Make sure you are living a life that is aligned with your values.

“In practically every industry where the main product is content, there has been an explosion not necessarily in quality, but absolutely in quantity.” This is largely due to advances in technology, which have enabled content producers to create and distribute content at a much higher rate than ever before. As a result, consumers are bombarded with a wealth of content, making it difficult to find quality content.

And companies don’t just want attention, they want retention. 

“The war for your attention is a zero-sum game. If Netflix retains four hours of your day, that’s four hours HBO can’t get. The way for companies to remain competitive is to ensure a never-ending stream of content, which is how we reached the era of content overload. This is how boredom, as a state of existence, died. Gone are the days when you had to resort to twiddling your thumbs, wiggling your toes, or, worse yet, talking to somebody in person. For the kids that may be reading – oh, who am i kidding? There are no kids reading this. They have better things to do.” – Howard Chai: The Death of Boredom

Even a blog is about maintaining your attention. No, this isn’t a product from a prime content producer. However, it is my content. These are my thoughts, and I strive to bring consistency in my posts and provide my readers with value. I believe that this consistency helps to keep the readers engaged and creates a solid foundation for a loyal audience. I’m always looking for ways to improve and refine my content to keep my readers engaged.

My hope, much like everyone else, is that of retention. As all marketers should hope for. 

The world runs on ideas. Many are old or established, but they still keep the lights on. Some new updates are always in the work as well. Electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, and new forms of artificial intelligence are just some examples of the ideas that are changing the world. These ideas are helping to make the world more efficient, sustainable, and equitable.

And each are examples of building upon existing technologies. This is an example of how innovators are not only creating new technologies but also leveraging existing ones to make a greater impact.

And innovation is simply the application of ideas. Creativity, and the ability to envision something that doesn’t yet exist. This is what’s making the world go round. And it will continue to do so for the forseeable future. 

When we think about city life, we often think about crowds and lack of green space and crime and pollution. Pollution and traffic congestion are two of the most commonly cited problems with urban living.

However, walkability is a crucial factor when assessing city life. Cities with high walkability scores are often seen as desirable places to live due to the ease of access to amenities, such as restaurants, bars, and shops. Being able to walk from one location to another, rather than drive, is a huge benefit. 

This has been written about exhaustively, but it bears repeating. 

Basically, it states that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. It’s a useful tool to help you focus on the most important tasks and prioritize them. This way, you can get the most out of your time and energy.

Find which 20% of your efforts are yielding those 80% of results.

Adam Ryan of Axios recently wrote this about ‘Narrative Control’:

“The success of commodity businesses is primarily dictated by the perception that they have among their customers. That perception is cemented by the narrative control they possess.

Nike – best for athletes. Southwest Airlines – most family friendly airline. Starbucks – the most welcoming atmosphere.”

One way to create customer engagement is to create a narrative that encourages a need on the part of the customer. For them to become a part of the “best”, “friendliest”, or “most welcoming”, for example.

And any brand can do this. It’s not hard to tell a story. In fact, every company should be.

By creating a narrative that encourages becoming a part of something, customers are more likely to become invested in the brand and engage with the company. 

The real trick is to do it with authenticity and humility.

When you can’t seem to make the work fit into the hours. Remember: that’s okay. Sometimes, you can’t do everything. 

You can’t do everything. That feels a bit like a mantra, doesn’t it? You can’t do everything. 

And you shouldn’t try. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t try something because it’s too hard. Or because you’re afraid.

But you should acknowledge that there are things that you just won’t be able to get to. And it’s okay.

Accept it. Don’t be yourself up over it.

Achieving balance in life is sometimes challenging. The right amount of work, rest, family and other activities is essential to keep a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Anyone can learn to find the perfect balance, but it requires dedication, discipline, and commitment.

A balanced life includes having enough time to pursue meaningful activities, such as leisure, hobbies, and relationships. It also involves ensuring that you are taking care of your physical and mental health and have enough time to relax and recharge.

Setting boundaries helps, as well as establishing routines (here I go again). But, it works. Taking regular breaks can also help to maintain a balanced life. Embracing the present moment and appreciating what you have can also improve your overall well-being. 

Finally, it’s important to remember that balance is a fluid concept, and adjusting your expectations as your circumstances change is ok.

For starters, digital media is going nowhere. It’s easily accessible, nearly instantaneous, and relatively cheap in comparison to physical versions of anything. It’s also easier to share and create content with digital media, making it an invaluable tool for marketing and other forms of communication. Additionally, digital media can be stored and accessed virtually anywhere, making it a great resource for both businesses and individuals.

However, despite the convenience and portability of digital media, there is still something to be said about the unique look and sound of analog. Vinyl records, for example, create a richer sound than compressed digital audio, and old film cameras create a distinct look that digital cameras simply cannot replicate.

In Japan (which, let’s face it, is so technologically sophisticated that you’re bound to see resurgences of old tech), cassette tapes are reaching a new level of popularity. For example, some tapes are being resold for upwards of $1000, making them more expensive than vinyl records. This renewed interest in cassettes is also inspiring a new generation of musicians to produce and distribute their work on the format.

This is partially due to the nostalgia factor, but also because of the unique sound quality that cassettes offer. Many music lovers appreciate the imperfections and warmth of the cassettes, and the physical nature of the medium. Additionally, cassettes are more affordable than vinyl, making them an excellent option for independent artists.

And as for vinyl album sales, records started seeing an uptick in purchases in the early 2000s. This trend has kept growing and today vinyl records are the fastest-growing segment of physical music. They are now the preferred format for many music fans who want to enjoy the highest audio fidelity and experience the artwork of the album.

In fact, in 2022, 43.46 million vinyl albums were sold, representing a 4.2% year-over-year increase and the largest year for vinyl album sales since 1991. 

Besides, they’re fun to listen to. This is in part due to the fact that vinyl records offer a tangible musical experience. The record must be placed, the needle must be positioned, and there is no repeating. You want to listen to it again, you move the needle. 

So that’s cassette tapes, and vinyl, and… VHS? Well, as a matter of fact, and, surprisingly, VHS has seen a resurgence in popularity. While the market for VHS tapes is still small, there has been a notable increase in people buying, selling, and collecting VHS tapes in the past few years. This renewed interest in VHS can be attributed to nostalgia, as well as the fact that VHS tapes often contain rare or hard-to-find movies and television shows. Collectors have also noted the unique aesthetic of VHS tapes, which are often seen as a more analog and physical way of experiencing media.

Recent trends on social media show increased use of early-aught digital cameras, highlighted by somewhat out-of-focus snaps; you can see them being carried at events by young adults and children who weren’t even alive when the cameras were produced. Which is part of the appeal. 

Were film purchasing and processing more accessible to this generation, the popularity of film cameras would likely move out of niche photographer and cinematographer circles. This could migrate film, again, into the mainstream. 

Books have maintained popularity owing to ease of entry (in the US, literacy rates are nearly 100%) and affordability. Records can be found for cheap in second-hand stores and at the library. They can also be checked out along with books from the library. And almost every city across the nation has a library. So you’d just need a record player.

While you’re at it, you could get one with a tape deck for less than $100. It’s amazing to think, as we moved into CDs and DVDs, onto streaming, and eReaders, and portable mp3 players, that the world would readily accept the older, more traditional analog forms of entertainment. And yet, here we are. Collecting, listening, and reading. Still seeing films in 35mm at the cinema – I’m actually going to the New Beverly this week, known for showing films in 35mm. 

And while analog entertainment may not be as modern as digital, it still has a special charm that resonates with people of all ages.

Taking action towards something that is frightening can be daunting. Fear is there for a reason. To protect us!

But it also holds us back. Taking those steps, and facing your fear, can be liberating. It can help us push past our boundaries and build our confidence. 

When we take action towards something that scares us, it helps us to overcome our fear and anxiety. We become more aware of our inner strength and it helps us to believe in ourselves more. 

We don’t always get to be our best selves

Sometimes we have to settle. Sometimes we should put others first. We do not live in a perfect world and there are times when we have to make compromises. We have obligations to ourselves, to our families, and to our communities, and sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good.

So, maybe we don’t necessarily get to be our best selves. Maybe we don’t get to shine, or display the entirety of what we have to offer.

But giving up a little of your glow to help others shine brighter – that’s really not so bad.