This is one of the most important essays I've read this year.
Here's a quick summary:
"We're creating more than ever, but it weighs nothing."
The internet rewards lightness above all else. The algorithm doesn't care what you create, only that you keep creating.
"Light things shape culture but rarely shape us."
A million views doesn't equal a pound of significance. Your tweets and TikToks don't stack into something heavy. They're snowflakes – beautiful but gone in seconds.
We all start light – short-form content, rapid experiments, prolific posting. It's necessary. But no one wants to stay there forever.
"Many light things don’t add up to one heavy thing."
Eventually, we all crave something with weight. A book. A company. A masterpiece. Not just for prestige or money. For permanence.
The heaviest truth? You feel like an impostor when you only make light things. Deep down, you know they don't count. High output, low imprint.
What have you made that could survive a month offline? A year? A decade? Creating for 24-hour cycles isn't freedom or legacy. It's renting out your time.
The question isn't whether to make light or heavy things. It's finding the right balance between them.
"Your life’s work will be heavy."
Start building it now.
Read the full essay here.
