I used to make in-app purchases at work. Not the fun kind. The kind where you “unlock”: More responsibility, less sleep, a calendar that looks like it lost a fight, and a mysterious new role called “the person who handles it.”
I recognize the pattern now because I was the pattern. For me it showed up as:
-adopting the orphan project and raising it as my own
-saying “just this once” and accidentally signing a lifetime contract
-perfecting the deck like it was witness protection
-taking extra scope for the promise of “visibility” (aka workplace Monopoly money)
Early in my career, I thought excellence was insurance. If I did everything flawlessly, nothing could touch me. No awkward conversations. No disappointment. No “can we talk?” just… survival-by-performance and a steady drip of gold stars that brought the illusion of control.
The bill still showed up.
Because the real purchase wasn’t “productivity.” It was approval. Certainty. Belonging. A sense of being untouchable in a system that is, by design, very touchy.
With experience, you start noticing the pattern sooner. You can feel the moment you’re about to buy something you don’t actually need. You learn that “high performer” is not a lifelong subscription you have to keep renewing out of fear.
But if you keep making deluxe purchases for invisible reasons, you’ll eventually hate the job, the people, and the version of you who keeps clicking “Add to cart.”
So, here’s the quick audit before you say yes again: What am I really buying with this?
If the answer is safety, it’s time to stop paying in hidden fees. This is where SNAK quietly helps you get your power back:
-SKILLS to say the clear thing without spiraling
-a NETWORK that reality-checks you before you overcommit
-ACTIVITIES that refill instead of draining you
-KNOWLEDGE so you’re not making decisions out of fear or longing
Your turn: what’s the most common “work upgrade” you see people buying (extra hours, extra emotional labor, extra responsibility) and what do you think they’re actually trying to purchase?
