In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
It's Never the Tools
It's Never the ToolsAs the Paris Olympics wrap up, my favorite meme from the games is the story of Yousef Dikeç, the Turkish sharpshooter. I had no idea how much gear is involved in Olympic-caliber shooting. Special heavy clothes limit your motion. Special glasses with special lenses allow you to see your sight and target perfectly. Eye patches that would make Blackbeard jealous prevent your brain from getting confused. The whole thing starts to give off a Locutus of Borg feel. And then there was Turkish pistol shooter Yousef Dikeç. He showed up with a T-shirt and a pair of in-ear earplugs. Then he stuck his one hand in his pocket, raised his other arm, closed one eye, and shot his way to a silver medal. I like gear as much as the next guy, but always remember gear is not what makes you successful. Your pal, p.s. My Productivity Summer Camp project is now rolling. We've got 22 students (ranging from high school to graduate school) getting comfortable with their Arete and figuring it out. Want to work on your own Arete? Check out my Productivity Field Guide and use code YOUSEF for 10% Off for the next week. |
David Sparks (MacSparky)
In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
The Alfred Field Guide has landed! Your Mac at the Speed of Thought. Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], After six months of rebuilding my entire Alfred setup and recording 80+ HD screencasts and four+ hours of training, the Alfred Field Guide is officially live. Purchase Now with 10% Off What you’ll master Zero‑to‑Hero Setup: Install Alfred, unlock Powerpack features, and master core prefs in minutes. Launch & Search at Mach Speed: Apps, files, snippets, clipboard, system controls—all from...
Hi Reader, Years ago, I encountered a fascinating concept in a book by the Dalai Lama: every seven years, human beings transform into entirely new versions of themselves. This idea stems from the biological principle that our bodies replace virtually all their cells over a seven-year cycle. The person you are today doesn't share a single cell with the version of you from seven years ago. (This is, of course, a generalization as some cells regenerate much faster and others a little slower.)...
Hi Reader, There's a rumor that Apple is working on an on-device medical AI. The idea is that your iPhone or Apple Watch could use its onboard silicon to privately analyze your health data and offer recommendations, without sending that sensitive information to the cloud. The general vibe I'm seeing in response to this rumor is justified skepticism. Plenty of folks out there think there's no way Apple can pull this off, but I think this is exactly the kind of thing they should be doing. This...