WHAT DISTRACTS YOU in the always-on virtual world we inhabit?
I follow a lot of brilliantly talented jewelry designers and retailers on social media and I click on every photo they post. While this activity is arguably relevant to my role in INSTORE, it’s also easy to get sucked into a rabbit hole as I assemble my fantasy jewelry wish list, which in no way reflects my in-real-life budget and is of a length best described as approaching infinity.
It’s not limited to jewelry. Advertisers are throwing virtual shoes my way, along with handbags, carry-on luggage and dog attire. They know me so well.
Neighborhood news renders me rapt. On the Next Door app, my New Orleans neighbors report property crime (“Catalytic converter stolen! Someone cut my catalytic converter right off!”), lost cats (“Has anyone seen Floyd?”) loud noises. (“Did you hear that? It shook my house!”) .
If you’re distracted, too, whether by sourdough bread recipes, cat videos or circuitous political debate, you’ll benefit from our Big Story this month: Chris Burslem’s thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written article on paying attention to what’s important. The real trouble, I learned, is that in the modern world, we have defined too many things as worthy of having the power to distract us. Defining your work — or staying aware of what genuinely deserves your attention — is the most crucial work you’ll do.