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.
This Was It
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Hi Friend, I recently took a flight and following touchdown, a crew member made a surprise announcement: this landing marked our captain’s final flight after 30 years piloting aircraft. We all applauded. As we disembarked, the captain stood in the aisle, offering each passenger a farewell. When it was my turn, I congratulated him. I actually thought about what I’d say. “I hope your next adventure is as exciting as this one was.” His eyes met mine, serious and somber, as he quietly replied, “This was it.” I was swept onward by the flow of passengers, but he held my eye for just a moment longer. The sadness on his face has stayed with me. Life is full of transitions. I’ve faced many — shifting careers, watching my kids grow up, leaving behind the identity I had built as a lawyer. Most big changes in life aren’t surprises. Retirement doesn’t sneak up overnight, and children don’t grow up in secret. Yet, some of us still find ourselves flat-footed when life’s inevitable curves appear. It’s tempting to ignore change, to stick our heads in the sand, pretending it’s far away, until suddenly we’re facing a stark realization: “This was it.” I’ve written before about the importance of continuously Knitting Your Parachute. Asking yourself often, “What’s next, and how do I make that work?” is a practice I deeply believe in. It’s an approach that keeps hope alive, turns anxiety into anticipation, and keeps you engaged with life. This week, I encourage you to spend a few quiet moments reflecting: What’s your next move, and how can you embrace it? Whether you’re graduating, shifting careers, or facing retirement, don’t wait until change feels overwhelming. Life’s bends in the road are inevitable, but how we meet them, that’s entirely up to us. Let’s commit never to find ourselves in a position where we have to quietly say, “This was it.” It’s stories like this that led me to make the Productivity Field Guide. In the NewsM6 MacBook Pro RedesignThere’s a lot of murmuring about next year’s hypothetical M6 MacBook Pro update. (Not this year’s hypothetical M5 update.) The M6 is supposed to have an OLED screen (hooray!) and be thinner (ruh-roh). I have thoughts. glassOSThere are also increasing rumors that Apple is updating the look of its user interface for the operating system updates getting released at WWDC in June. If you look at the Vision Pro interface and the look of Apple’s new Invites app, it’s all a lot glassier than anything we’ve seen from Apple in quite a while. I hope it’s true. I’m ready for a new look. Your Pal, David P.S. We had a lot of fun in the MacSparky Labs in March. Notable events was a meetup of Vision Pro users to reflect on the first year with Apple’s new device and a deep dive on e-books in light of Amazon tightening the screws on downloading your purchased books.
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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.
Hi Friend, Just a quick reminder that your 50% upgrade discount on the Productivity Field Guide 2026 runs through Sunday. The 2026 edition is a significant expansion with new concepts like Shadow Roles, the Arete Radar, Physical Anchors, and more. The Pro Edition also includes a brand new eight-session Workshop Series plus live quarterly planning sessions throughout 2026. Essentials or Pro edition, your choice. Code: PFGUP26 (50% off) Your upgrade price: 50% off either edition. Use code...
Hi Friend, The Productivity Field Guide 2026 launched a few days ago. People are already digging in, and the feedback is coming in: “The chapter on roles and arete blew my mind.” — Irene K. “I’ve been playing with productivity systems for nearly 20 years. I wouldn’t expect to have anything new to learn. Sparky proved me wrong.” — Mark L. “This Field Guide is not about figuring out how to do more things in less time; it’s about figuring out how to give more time to the important things.” —...
A MacSparky Dispatch Hi Friend, Apple Creator Suite Icons Apple announced Creator Studio this week, bundling Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage along with enhanced versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote into a $130/year subscription. My feelings are mixed. Every time Apple rolls out a new subscription, I get a little leery. The company's increasing focus on services revenue feels like a slow drift away from the traditional model: make great hardware,...