They’re Stealing Your Reps: How Content Consumption is Replacing Real Growth

We live in a world flooded with content. Podcasts, YouTube, Reels, sermons, newsletters, Netflix, TikTok. You name it, it’s available 24/7. And while some of it is helpful, even inspiring, here’s the problem:

We’re getting better at watching.

Not better at doing.

We’re consuming more than ever, but growing less than we think. Watching someone else lead, perform, speak, or train doesn’t make you better. It makes you feel like you’re improving. But feeling busy isn’t the same thing as building something.

And slowly, the reps you need to become the leader you’re called to be are slipping away. One scroll at a time.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The average adult spends 2.5 hours a day on social media. That’s over 900 hours a year. That’s 38 full days. Gone.

Add streaming, and it jumps to over 60 days a year (two full months) just watching stuff.

That’s two months you could’ve been building something. Practicing something. Leading something. But it’s gone. And you can’t get it back.

Leadership is Built in the Reps

You don’t become a better communicator by watching TED Talks.

You get better by speaking.

You don’t get emotionally stronger by scrolling self-help clips.

You grow by doing hard things, reflecting, and being honest.

You don’t become a better leader by following influencers.

You become one by leading when it’s hard, showing up when you don’t feel like it, and owning the results.

That’s how real growth works.

And it always takes more than just consuming good content.

Change the Story

Start asking better questions:

• What skill am I actually building right now?

• What reps did I get in today?

• Am I creating or just consuming?

• Am I becoming the kind of person I’d want to follow?

If you want to go deeper, here are a few books worth your time:

1. Deep Work by Cal Newport — Learn how to focus again. This one will challenge how you work.

2. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport — Shows how to take your time and attention back.

3. Atomic Habits by James Clear — Not about hype. About small consistent actions that actually change your life.

4. The Shallows by Nicholas Carr — Your brain is being rewired. This explains how.

5. Irresistible by Nicholas Carr — This breaks down why tech and content are so addictive and what you can do about it.

The truth is, we’re not too busy.

We’re just not being honest about how we use our time.

Social media and streaming aren’t just distractions. They’re stealing your leadership reps.

Stop giving your growth away to someone else’s algorithm.

Own your time.

Protect your reps.

And do the work that actually makes you better. 💯