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The Attention Dividend - by Yew Jin Lim - What YJ Thinks

yewjin.substack.com · 888 words · saved by 1 readers

It’s been a few months since I walked away from my Big Tech job, and I remember the question I had at the start of this whole journey: So what now? Here’s the thing about leaving corporate life: the absence of structure is both liberation and vertigo. “Time management” was never the problem. The problem was attention - where it goes, who owns it, and what remains when you finally reclaim it. I have started to live day-to-day by being clear about my purpose. And this isn’t going to be a big social media zinger - I’m not trying to “change the world” or “disrupt an industry.” My purpose starts from my core and radiates outward: Family and self first - Be a caring parent and partner Then community - Share what I’ve learned Then world - Maybe, if there’s bandwidth This isn’t settling for less. It’s understanding that sustainable impact starts from a stable foundation. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you definitely can’t pour from a cup you’ve smashed against the wall chasing goals tha

It’s been a few months since I walked away from my Big Tech job, and I remember the question I had at the start of this whole journey: So what now? Here’s the thing about leaving corporate life: the absence of structure is both liberation and vertigo. “Time management” was never the problem. The problem was attention - where it goes, who owns it, and what remains when you finally reclaim it. I have started to live day-to-day by being clear about my purpose. And this isn’t going to be a big social media zinger - I’m not trying to “change the world” or “disrupt an industry.” My purpose…

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