Hey, Reader!

If scrolling feels more like a chore than a connection these days, I get it. For years I tried to crack every platform—TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Threads. Coaches, courses, trends, hashtags. Engagement? Mostly zero.

I was exhausted from performing for an audience that wasn’t really there.

Then I made a simple decision: stop chasing. Post what God puts on my heart, serve the people who need it, and let the right ones find me. In that freedom, I discovered something surprising—my favorite way to stay connected isn’t one of the big ones.

It’s Snapchat.

Yes, the one a lot of folks think is just for kids. I don’t post public stories or chase views. I have four friends on there—all college-educated professionals, none of them teenagers. We send quick videos or photos of our day: a coffee run, a funny moment at work, a sunset from the backyard. They see it once, it disappears, and that’s it. No likes, no comments, no pressure to impress.

It feels truly social. We’re sharing life in real time, even though we’re in different towns. My stick-in-the-mud CPA buddy even started snapping back—it’s become this low-key way to stay in each other’s worlds without the noise.

Contrast that with the rest of social media: endless scrolling, algorithm games, crafting the “perfect” post. It’s exhausting. Snapchat strips it all away. No permanent record, no performance metrics—just genuine snapshots of life.

There’s a spiritual echo here. Real connection isn’t about broadcasting to the masses; it’s about being present with the few God puts in your path. Jesus invested deeply in 12, then even more in 3—He didn’t chase crowds for validation. He served faithfully, authentically. When we stop performing and start sharing from the heart (even in small, disappearing ways), something freeing happens. Less comparison, more gratitude. Less overwhelm, more peace.

This isn’t a call to delete every app. But it is an invitation to ask: Are your online habits building real relationships, or just feeding the machine? At 60, married to the woman of my dreams, I’ve learned I don’t need to impress strangers. I need to love and serve the people right in front of me—online or off.

A Simple Experiment for You This Week:

1. Pick one person (friend, family, colleague) you want deeper connection with.
2. Send them a quick, unpolished snapshot of your day—no filter, no caption needed.
3. Let it be one-and-done. No expectation of reply.
4. Notice how it feels—lighter? More human?

Questions to Reflect On:

• Where are you still performing online instead of connecting authentically?
• Who in your life could use a simple, no-pressure share from you today?
• How might God be inviting you to trade broadcast for real presence?

True productivity includes protecting your soul from the noise. Sometimes the simplest tools—like a disappearing snap—remind us what connection was meant to be.

Reply with your takeaway or if you've tried a low-key share lately—I read every one and love hearing how this lands.

Mark
Mister Productivity
Host of The Mister Productivity Podcast (listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts).

P.S. If you’re ready for productivity that sticks—rooted in faith and fueled by action—my 90-day coaching spots are open. Let’s talk. Reply with I'M READY!