If you’re reading my blog for whatever reason, you’re likely a software developer or other well paid technical professional and this will likely apply to you.

When I was broke in college, and first starting out in my career, I wanted to save as much as possible. I applied my analytical mindset to every purchase I made - groceries, gas, clothes. It was exhausting and incredibly time consuming. I was willing to sacrifice my time to save a few bucks.

I now know my output potential is much higher and I’d rather preserve my time to allocate towards that output than make these decisions. Money is a big pool of water, and as long as you can keep the faucet pouring faster than it’s draining you’re in the clear. It’s prudent to have a nice retention basin built up too.

If you’re like me and used to do a timely cost-benefit analysis on literally every purchase, I encourage you to try a month where you pay for every convenience (i.e. saves you time, not luxury which makes you feel good) you reasonably can. Notice the difference in how much more free time you have, and put that towards furthering your career, building a brand, whatever.

Everything nowadays is competing for your time and attention. Social media, advertisements, TV, movies, podcasts, music, books, news - there is no shortage of things to consume. Step back and remember they are competing for your time because it is valuable.

I sound like a sigma-male, cigar-smoking, 5AM club grindset guy now, but that is not what I want you to take away. I just encourage every you - the person reading this who probably min/maxxed your way into the position you’re in today - to consider your time as more valuable than your hourly rate. It’s the most finite resource you have, spend it wisely.