Fight the Drift toward Mediocrity

It refers to the tendency of individuals and organizations to gravitate toward the easiest, most convenient tasks, especially when there are no clear measures of productivity. People often default to shallow work—like answering emails or attending meetings—because these tasks require less effort, create the illusion of productivity, and are socially reinforced.

The Principle of Least Resistance hinders deep work by encouraging a reactive focus on low-value tasks, creating a highly visible simulacrum of progress rather than fostering purposeful, high-impact efforts. Overcoming it requires intentionally prioritizing challenging yet meaningful work.

The Cult of the Internet thrives in a society where constant connectivity is seen as a marker of success. This obsession with being online, driven by technopoly—where technology dictates societal values—distracts from meaningful, focused work. As Neil Postman warned, when technology leads unchecked, we lose the ability to critically evaluate its impact. This reinforces presenting digital platforms as solutions to every problem, making it difficult to resist the constant pull of the internet. This results in distractions and instant gratification overshadow deep, intentional work.

The rise of the Cult of the Internet is a reflection of technopoly, where society uncritically elevates technology as the ultimate answer to all needs. This mindset, closely tied to the Uber Ideology, leads to a culture that prioritizes online engagement at the expense of meaningful, focused activities. In this world, individuals fall into a cycle of digital distractions, much like the citizens of Brave New World, who, trapped in superficial pleasures, avoid the challenges of engaging in more profound and productive work.

Deep work challenges the norms of modern workplaces, which favor visible busyness and shallow tasks. While businesses value constant connectivity, focusing on deep, meaningful work benefits individuals by fostering mastery and producing higher-quality results. Rejecting workplace distractions may conflict with corporate culture but leads to personal growth and long-term success. Deep work prioritizes value creation over the illusion of productivity.