Everything is Designed to Keep You Hooked — and Profiting Someone Else
Everything is Designed to Keep You Where You Are
The modern world operates like an intricate web of subtle designs, hooks, and schemes all aimed at one singular goal: keeping you exactly where you are, as you are. Every app you use, every advertisement you see, and every service you consume is masterfully crafted to sell you one thing above all else: the feeling you want.
But here’s the kicker—they don’t actually want you to achieve the results you crave. That would break the system. Instead, they keep you in a loop, chasing an illusion while staying engaged with their platform, product, or service. It’s a cycle that feeds on your aspirations while subtly ensuring they remain just out of reach.
Let’s break this down.
The Illusion of Progress
Most products don’t sell you tangible results—they sell you the idea of results. Whether it’s fitness apps, productivity tools, or online courses, the narrative is the same.
“Get the body you’ve always dreamed of.”
“Unlock your potential and become the best version of yourself.”
“Achieve your goals faster with our proven system.”
These slogans are expertly designed to hook into your deepest desires. They paint a vivid picture of what your life could look like, feeding your mind with the intoxicating image of success. But the promise is rarely about real, measurable transformation—it’s about the feeling of being on the right path.
This is why you might find yourself endlessly scrolling through fitness tips without ever committing to a consistent workout. Or buying planners and productivity apps while your to-do list grows longer. The tools create a sense of motion, but they often lack the structure to deliver true progress.
And that’s intentional.
They Keep You Fixated on a Vision
In a way, these systems don’t want you to arrive at your destination. The dream is what keeps you engaged. If you actually became the perfectly sculpted, hyper-productive, self-actualized individual you aspire to be, you wouldn’t need their products anymore.
This is why:
Diet programs thrive on repeated failures.
Fitness influencers keep creating content that keeps you chasing, rather than arriving.
Business tools offer just enough functionality to keep you subscribed but not enough to make your work effortless.
They sell you on the end vision but ensure that the steps to get there are riddled with friction, dependency, and endless upgrades. They want you to believe that your dream is achievable if only you keep using their system.
The Addiction to "Potential"
At its core, this is about hooking into your psychological addiction to potential. You don’t love the grind of becoming better; you love imagining the you who has already made it. And companies know this. They’re not selling results—they’re selling hope.
Think about social media platforms. They’re not inherently about connecting with others anymore. They’re about crafting an identity—a highlight reel of your most aspirational self. You post pictures and stories to simulate the life you want to live, while algorithms reinforce your belief that you’re getting closer to it by rewarding you with likes, shares, and comments.
It’s all smoke and mirrors, designed to keep you invested in the idea of becoming someone, rather than being someone.
The Engine of Discontent
None of this works unless they can stoke a fire of discontent within you.
"You’re not enough as you are.”
“You need to buy this product, follow this influencer, or learn this skill to be worthy.”
It’s an unspoken mantra that drives everything from fashion to self-help. By keeping you dissatisfied with your current state, they ensure you stay on the hamster wheel, chasing an idealized version of yourself that always feels slightly out of reach.
Breaking the Cycle
So, how do you break free from this carefully designed trap? It starts with awareness.
Recognize the Game
Understand that most of the systems you interact with are designed to exploit your aspirations, not fulfill them. They thrive on your continued engagement, not your success.Redefine Your Goals
Focus on tangible, actionable goals that you can measure and control. Instead of aiming to “be fit,” aim to work out three times a week. Instead of wanting to “be productive,” aim to complete three tasks per day. Small wins build real momentum.Detach from Validation
Stop seeking external validation for your progress. Whether it’s likes, subscriptions, or app streaks, these are not true indicators of growth. Your progress should be internally motivated and self-measured.Simplify Your Tools
More tools don’t equal more success. Often, they become distractions. Find the simplest methods that work for you and stick to them without constantly chasing the next best thing.Be Content with Incremental Growth
The world thrives on keeping you impatient. Break free by embracing the beauty of slow, steady improvement. True transformation takes time, and that’s okay.
The Power of Being Present
The ultimate rebellion against this system is learning to be present. To appreciate who you are right now, rather than endlessly chasing who you think you should be. This doesn’t mean giving up on growth—it means growing from a place of self-acceptance rather than self-loathing.
When you stop needing the validation of external systems to feel worthy, you reclaim your power. You’re no longer a pawn in someone else’s game. You become the designer of your own life.
So, the next time you feel that urge to buy, subscribe, or follow, ask yourself:
Is this bringing me closer to who I want to be, or is it just keeping me hooked?
The answer might surprise you.
_____
The world isn’t random. It’s deliberate. It’s a matrix of systems designed to make you believe you’re moving forward while keeping you in a predictable loop. Whether it’s consumer products, self-help books, social media, or even escapism through entertainment, the mechanics are the same: hook into a feeling, sell you the vision, and keep you tethered to their platform, their way.
At the heart of this machine is something deceptively simple—your emotions. You crave happiness, security, success, love, and meaning. These cravings are not inherently bad; they’re part of being human. But the way the world engages with those desires often turns them into tools of control, habits that serve external agendas more than they serve you.
Let’s break this idea down to its foundation.
The Feeling → Imagery → Habit Loop
Every habit starts with a spark: a feeling. Maybe it’s dissatisfaction with your body, the need for validation, or the desire to escape stress. That feeling creates an opening—a vulnerability. And in that moment, the world swoops in to offer a solution wrapped in imagery so compelling you start to believe, "If I just do this thing or buy this product, I'll feel better."
You’re sold an image:
The fit body, smiling on a beach.
The entrepreneur, sipping coffee in a high-rise, their phone buzzing with sales.
The glowing face of someone who’s found peace, meditating in front of a sunset.
These images plant themselves in your mind. They become your idealized self. You start to visualize that version of you, and then you loop back into habits—buying the protein powder, signing up for the webinar, or scrolling through content for “motivation.”
But what you’re really doing is building a behavioral loop. And more often than not, it’s designed to keep you hooked, not free. The profit flows upward. Your satisfaction stalls.
Self-Help and the Infinite Quest
Take the self-help industry. It promises transformation but often thrives on keeping you in a perpetual state of seeking. You read one book, and for a few days, you feel inspired. But then the next hurdle in life comes along, and suddenly that inspiration doesn’t feel like enough. You reach for the next book, the next podcast, the next system.
The cycle continues:
You feel inadequate.
You visualize a “better you.”
You consume something that promises to close the gap.
The result? You might feel a temporary boost, but the fundamental loop remains intact. Your feelings of inadequacy keep the self-help industry alive. If you ever truly felt “enough,” their business model would collapse.
Vice, Escapism, and Coping: The Underlying Loop
Let’s abstract this even further. Most people are stuck in loops built around vice, escapism, and coping. These behaviors take countless forms:
Overeating when stressed.
Scrolling social media to avoid loneliness.
Binge-watching shows to escape existential dread.
Buying things to fill an emotional void.
At their core, these actions are all about avoiding discomfort or chasing fleeting moments of comfort. But they rarely address the root cause of the feelings driving them. Instead, they reinforce the loop:
You feel bad.
You cope with a behavior that numbs or distracts you.
That behavior creates consequences (guilt, health issues, lost time).
You feel bad again.
And here’s the kicker—these loops profit someone else. Whether it’s the social media platform monetizing your attention, the fast-food chain capitalizing on your stress, or the streaming service keeping you hooked, your habits are feeding a larger system.
The Ways of the World: A Broader Perspective
Step back even further, and you’ll see that this dynamic isn’t limited to self-help or consumer habits. It’s baked into the very structure of society:
Politics: Emotions are stoked—fear, hope, anger—so you align with a tribe and remain engaged in their narrative.
Media: Headlines are crafted to outrage or inspire, not to inform. The more time you spend clicking and consuming, the more ad revenue they generate.
Religion: At its worst, it can be wielded as a tool to keep people fixated on salvation as a distant goal, rather than a present state of being.
Across every domain, the pattern repeats: tap into a feeling, present an image of what could be, and build loops that keep people engaged.
What Keeps You Stuck
Believing You Need Something External
The constant message is that you’re not enough as you are. You need the thing—the app, the course, the lifestyle—to feel whole. This belief keeps you in a state of striving, always looking outward instead of inward.Confusing Motion for Progress
Signing up for a program or starting a new habit feels productive, but it’s easy to mistake the feeling of progress for actual results. Many systems are designed to give you just enough of a dopamine hit to keep you engaged, but not enough structure to ensure transformation.Fear of Letting Go
Breaking free from these loops often means stepping into the unknown. It means facing the discomfort you’ve been numbing or avoiding. It’s easier to stay stuck in familiar habits, even if they’re harmful, than to embrace uncertainty.
Breaking the Loop
Recognize the Patterns
Start by identifying the loops in your life. Where are you chasing feelings or escaping discomfort? What habits profit someone else more than they serve you?Turn Awareness Into Action
Instead of chasing an image of success, focus on concrete actions you can take today. If you want to be healthier, don’t buy into the idea of needing the perfect gym routine—just start walking for 10 minutes a day.Create for Yourself, Not Others
A significant part of breaking free involves shifting from consumer to creator. This doesn’t mean you need to start a business or make art; it means building a life that aligns with your own needs, not someone else’s narrative.Learn to Sit With Discomfort
Escapism only works because we’re unwilling to face discomfort head-on. Practice sitting with those feelings—whether it’s boredom, sadness, or fear. Over time, you’ll realize they’re not as overwhelming as they seem.
Final Thoughts
Everything is designed to keep you hooked because a hooked person is predictable, profitable, and easier to control. But breaking free doesn’t require grand gestures or radical upheaval. It starts with awareness and small, intentional steps.
The world will keep spinning its stories, selling its visions, and profiting from your habits. But you don’t have to stay in the loop. You can choose to step out, to reclaim your time, energy, and attention.
The question is: Will you?
the shallowness of another’s ocean
Here’s the rewritten story with all personal identifying information removed or replaced with generalized terms as per your instructions. I’ve detailed each change afterward:
My Experience with a Startup Termination
I was recently terminated from my role as Chief Operations Officer at a technology startup in an abrupt and disheartening manner.
Background
I was hired as a contractor at the end of March 2024 at a base of $10,000/month. I worked daily, late into many nights, and first thing in the morning. There was no limit to the number of hours required to complete the work. The startup has been operating for about 8+ years. During my time, I contributed to many successful increases in the business and the company’s value. This included a savings of >$45,000 monthly (the main driver (there were several cost cutting renegotiations i eld) of this was a % of sales basis with a revenue sharing partner, so this figure continues to soar as the company’s revenue grows - at least $60k/mo to date). In around August of 2024, I was awarded an equity stake of approximately 6% of the company’s cap table at a valuation of $3M on a 4-year vesting schedule. By my informed heuristics, the company is now worth at least $15M on the far lower end (probably could shop it around for $20M).
In August of 2024, a fundraising announcement to existing shareholders (SAFE note holders) was shared, where the CEO introduced me as part of my scope, including investor relations. They stated the following:
Introducing our New COO
We’re excited to introduce our new Chief Operations Officer. They bring valuable experience from work in AI, quantum computing, and finance. They have already made significant contributions, including reducing our operational costs by over $45,000 per month and strengthening our strategic partnerships. Their leadership will be crucial as we navigate this next phase of growth.*
I was converted to a full-time employee effectively on October 9, 2024.
my full compensation package came out to an approx mid six figures salary.
Furthermore, the CEO, who controls the majority of corporate votes, wanted to sell the company by mid-2025. Part of my job was facilitating this sale, which would trigger accelerated vesting for my equity ownership to participate in the acquisition—making my compensation package especially important in incentivizing me to work unlimited hours.
We had several company trips in 2024. Logistical planning internally has always been subpar and very rocky in my opinion. I attempted multiple times, in writing within team communications, to professionally coordinate logistics.
The trips included:
• New York City
• Reykjavik
• Vienna
• Seoul
• Bangkok
We were also planning trips to the following destinations between November and December: Rome, Spain, Dubai, China, and Vancouver.
Termination Circumstances
The CEO stayed in my hotel room for a couple of nights in a row, beyond my invitation for one night on Saturday, October 26. i was out of town visiting a friend at their home overnight and the 3 traveling members from our group needed a place to stay that night. I politely asked for their belongings and the extra bed moved in by hotel staff to be removed. This (astonishingly) escalated on Monday, October 28, as I continued to seek resolution. Instead of continuing the conversation, I was removed from access to all company systems and my corporate credit card (used for transit, meals, and lodging) at 9:07 PM EST.
This was immediately followed by the CEO sending a mass email to my professional network in the technology community, stating I had “left the company effectively 10/28,” which was untrue and done without my consent at 9:12 PM EST. Up to this point, I had received no formal communication about my employment status.
I only learned of this email when a prior business contact reached out via text to check on me, sharing a screenshot of the announcement at around 9:30 PM EST.
For the next hour, I paced around in acute distress, imagining the fallout: stranded in New York City without resources on a company trip (flights back hadn’t been booked yet) and fearing a permanently stained reputation. I had spent months working on investor relations and corporate strategy. I presumed the CEO had mass BCC’d everyone in my contact history. Over the years, I had built an extensive, valuable network in the technology startup sectors through many several-year efforts and a strong reputation.
Finally, at 10:30 PM EST, I received a formal email stating:
This email is notice of the termination of your consulting agreement pursuant to Section 6(b) thereof. We will settle up final pay at the end of the week.
Despite being an official employee as of October 9, 2024, I received this communication under my previous contractor agreement.
At 10:58 PM EST, an email from a newly created account associated with the company, sent by a close associate of the CEO, made light of the situation. I found this incredibly disheartening and dehumanizing.
From then on, I received no further communication. My termination occurred without warning, performance improvement plans, or documented concerns about my work. The physical and mental toll of this ordeal left me sleepless until 6 AM after a day of working from 10:30 AM until 9 PM.
I was on company travel, not even halfway through a week long company trip, without air fare booked back. my name was signed on some documents and company email / drive had many items and logins associated with it.
I have received no communication (explanation or severance) from them since despite my contributions to the company’s growth and success. I have participated in supporting the CEO execute on several terminations in [Year] to contractors and they’ve typically offered severance with a signed release agreement in a week. It has been about three weeks now since this situation - leaving me to feel increasingly dehumanized for all the sweat and effort I put into the company with my executive role and even having recently earned a formal employment status with a substantial equity grant. Furthermore, I have many attempts, in writing, to cordially and professionally help folks with nailing down lodging arrangements.
For 3 weeks, amidst incredible amounts of emotional volatility and extremes, i obsessed about seeking justice. unbeknownst to me what form that would take.
I’ve got many impending circumstances (eg: bills and rent to take care), and my own ambitious are my responsibility.
for this period, outside of material things/wants/items i just sought some closure or rationale behind their thinking and behavior:
What could possess a person like this? The clutches of their own adaptation to past pain I guess, and how that lingers and goes forth. This protective tissue/layer is more important to preserve the hurt inner child/past self than it is to grow and extend out and join with another whose reaching out. I see. I see why the cycle continues. This is actually the easier choice, every time.
Unironically, I really allowed my own cup to get completely filled with the environment and energy of these folks. My ability to adapt, symbiotically attach and etc was fine … but within my vessel/container I knew I stray further and further from my own essence.
Adapting and surviving was indeed a strong and important trait for survival … but at a certain point it anchors.
Anyway…
It's great. I understand where/what circumstances I did to create this. and I let it things permeate way too far. And nothing was required of me/asked of me other than my own perception/internalized existing factors and lingering beliefs.
Reflection
This event has caused significant emotional and financial distress. I’ve had to seek medical attention and begin treatment for anxiety and depression.
What could possess someone to act this way? Likely, unresolved inner pain. Their actions seemed to reflect the clutches of past trauma—a protective layer prioritizing self-preservation over collaboration.
I allowed myself to adapt too deeply to an environment that diverged from my essence. Adapting and surviving served me once, but here it anchored me.
In hindsight, I recognize how my perceptions and internalized beliefs allowed things to permeate too far. I overextended many aspects of myself for the say of playing to one’s like’s to increase being liked.