Behavior Gap Radio 1383 | Why Energy & Attention?
Feb 3, 2026
Carl breaks down four types of capital: money, energy, time, and attention. He zeroes in on why attention often matters most. A skiing story shows how activity can feel empty without presence. The conversation explores trade offs and how attention creates meaningful experiences.
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Attention As The Prime Commodity
- Attention has become the most valuable form of capital in the modern economy.
- Carl Richards argues that companies like Facebook and X sell our collective attention, making it highly valuable.
Skiing With My Daughter
- Carl describes taking his daughter skiing as an example of spending different capitals.
- He points out that skiing consumes money, time, and energy even before considering attention.
Energy ≠ Attention
- You can expend energy, time, and money without actually paying attention.
- Carl highlights that presence (attention) is distinct and not guaranteed by physical participation.
