We pay attention because our time is not cheap. The phrase, “Time is money” is actually an extreme understatement. Our time, our attention (unlike money) is not something we can make more of. There is no life promotion or second job that will somehow provide us with more than twenty four hours in a day.
This is extremely important to understand if we seek to share the things we make. In the act of sharing, our hope is that someone will be there to listen, to read, to receive. If we want someone to pay us with something as valuable as their attention though, then we better be offering them something of value in return.
This leads to the ever important topic of excellence. The internet is a beautiful thing because it gives everyone a voice and makes it incredibly easy for that voice to be heard. Unfortunately, the ease of sharing causes most to fall into a state of entitled mediocrity. We think that just because we’re saying something we somehow deserve the attention of the masses. This is where we would be mistaken. The platform may be free now, but attention still has to be earned. And the right kind of attention, the deep and connected and loyal kind, is earned most by those with the patience and commitment needed to create with excellence.
This is extremely important to understand if we seek to share the things we make. In the act of sharing, our hope is that someone will be there to listen, to read, to receive. If we want someone to pay us with something as valuable as their attention though, then we better be offering them something of value in return.
This leads to the ever important topic of excellence. The internet is a beautiful thing because it gives everyone a voice and makes it incredibly easy for that voice to be heard. Unfortunately, the ease of sharing causes most to fall into a state of entitled mediocrity. We think that just because we’re saying something we somehow deserve the attention of the masses. This is where we would be mistaken. The platform may be free now, but attention still has to be earned. And the right kind of attention, the deep and connected and loyal kind, is earned most by those with the patience and commitment needed to create with excellence.
