The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a consequence, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive.
When Cal Newport wrote Deep Work in 2016, he warned that Wikipedia and emails were killing our attention. Nine years later, in 2025, it’s worse—social media, AI, and notifications make it hard to think continuously. We scroll X or tweak AI prompts and claim we’re productive, but often it’s just noise.
This struck close to home: What do you create when you are unable to focus?
In an age starved for real innovation, shallow work will simply not cut it. Those who protect themselves from distractions and dive deeply into their craft—whether coding, creating, or problem-solving—will rise above. In order to succeed, we have to protect our attention as gold. Turn off the pings, silence the focus time, and dig in to work that matters.
Without the ability to focus, our engagement with complex issues like the Palestinian cause risks being limited to surface-level actions like posting or tweeting. While these efforts can raise awareness, they often lack the depth needed for meaningful impact.
For example, Tech for Palestine, a coalition of over 8,000 tech professionals, channels focused effort into impactful projects like open-source datasets documenting human tolls, boycott tools like Boycat, and advocacy incubators to support Palestinian liberation. These initiatives, driven by sustained, distraction-free work, provide tangible value—far beyond fleeting social media posts—by empowering communities and shifting narratives toward justice. True impact requires such deep, deliberate work to create lasting change.
Focus, or get left behind in the noise!