What Steve Jobs Didn’t Tell Us

The Hidden Cost of Our Screen Obsession

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs walked onto a stage in San Francisco and said the words that would ripple through the world:

“Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything… today, we’re introducing three revolutionary products of this class: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device… Are you getting it? These are not three separate devices. This is one device. And we are calling it iPhone."

He was right. The iPhone—and the smartphones that followed—did change everything. They

reshaped how we communicate, how we work, how we learn, and how we raise our families. They put the world in our pockets, made knowledge accessible in seconds, and connected us in ways once unimaginable.

But here’s what Steve Jobs didn’t tell us. He didn’t tell us that one day we’d reach for our phones before saying good morning to the people we love. He didn’t tell us that our kids would grow up measuring self-worth by likes and follows. He didn’t tell us that dinner tables and car rides would become battlegrounds for attention, or that workplaces would silently erode under the weight of constant notifications and endless pings. He also didn’t tell us how this technology would collide with the things we say matter most—family, health, presence, meaningful work.

We thought we were gaining tools to live better lives. Instead, many of us now live lives more

distracted, less connected, and out of alignment with what we truly value.

The truth is, this revolution has a dark side. The device that was meant to empower us now often consumes us. For many, it has shifted from tool to tether.

And yet—this isn’t just a story about loss. It’s also about choice. The same technology that can distract us can also help us learn, create, and connect in extraordinary ways. The difference comes down to how we use it.

This article is about facing that reality. It’s about asking hard questions:

• How much of my life is being lived on a screen?

• How much is being missed off the screen?

• And what will it take to regain control?

You’re not alone in wondering. Research shows that nearly every age group—from middle schoolers to grandparents—struggles with the pull of screens. Families feel it at the dinner table. Partners feel it in the living room, on car rides, and just about anywhere they count on connection. Leaders feel it throughout the office, in conference rooms, on Zoom calls, even on the income statement. And all of us feel it in our quiet moments, when we realize how rarely we allow ourselves to be… quiet.

This is our wake-up call. It’s time to see screen addiction for what it is, understand its impact on our health, relationships, values, and productivity—and most importantly, build a plan to take back control.

Because while Steve Jobs (or Apple) gave us a product that changed everything, it’s now up to us to decide how it changes us—and whether it helps us grow into better humans.

Confession: I am an Addict Too

Before we go any further, I need to admit something: I am an addict too. Like most people, I’ve fallen into habits I’m not proud of—reaching for my phone when I don’t need to, wasting time on apps that leave me feeling worse, and letting the screen steal my attention away from the people and things that matter most.

The only difference is that I’m aware of it, and I’m working on it. I track my usage. I put my phone on Do Not Disturb. I leave it behind when I don’t really need it. I notice when the way I’m using it is hurting my well-being— and I take steps to do something about it.

But I won’t pretend it’s always easy. Some days, it feels like I have to stay tethered to my phone— whether it’s for work demands or to stay connected with my family. That pull is real. And that’s exactly why I’ve had to be intentional about how I use it.

One thing I’ve come to recognize is how my phone affects the people right in front of me. When I pick it up at the table, in the car, on a walk, or even mid-conversation, I’m sending a silent but powerful message: you’re not that important. I didn’t always see it, but now I feel it—especially when I’m with others who do the same.

And almost every time, it comes with those two little words: “I’m just…”

I’m just checking to see… I’m just responding to so-and-so… I’m just looking up… I’m just…

We all say it. But let’s be honest, “I’m just…” is rarely just. It’s a signal that we’ve chosen the screen over the person right in front of us. And over time, those moments add up.

The Revolution To The Reliance

When Steve Jobs stood on stage in 2007, he painted a vision of possibility. A phone that could hold your music, connect you to the internet, and keep you in touch with anyone, anywhere. It was elegant, intuitive, and unlike anything the world had seen.

The promise was simple: life would be easier, smarter, more connected. And in many ways, it was. Smartphones helped us find our way without maps, connect with loved ones across the globe, capture moments instantly, and run businesses from the palm of our hands.

But here’s the reality we couldn’t see coming: the revolution quietly became a brain-altering reliance.

• We got 24/7 connection—but lost the ability to disconnect.

• We gained access to unlimited information—but now struggle to focus on any one thing. Goodbye attention span.

• We created social networks to bring people together—but many feel lonelier and crappier than ever.

• We put the world at our fingertips—but lost touch with the world right in front of us.

We have become prisoners to our phones. They call them “CELL Phones” for a reason, don’t they. The good news? We can get out of jail and take back control.

Our brains are being rewired. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Today, I find myself struggling to follow written directions because I’ve grown so dependent on Google Maps telling me every turn. It’s amazing—I now struggle to follow directions unless a voice tells me each turn. It’s as if my brain has lost that ability.

Families feel it at the dinner table. And let’s not forget: the time we pour into screens must come from somewhere. It’s stolen from family, health, focus, or meaningful work. And underneath all of this, something even deeper has been shifting.

This technology didn’t just change what we do with our time. It began to reshape what we value. The things most of us say matter most—family, presence, health, meaningful work—have been quietly pushed aside by the constant pull of the screen. Few people are even aware of how much their daily choices are now out of sync with their personal values.

That’s the paradox: the same device that promised to make our lives richer has, for many, left our lives poorer. For those who can learn to use it wisely, the smartphone is still a tool of incredible promise. But for those who don’t, it becomes a force that erodes the very foundation of what makes life meaningful.

The revolution changed everything. The reliance is costing us more than we realize.

The Reality Today – You Are Not Alone

Please, don’t skim this section. Slow down. Read it closely. The numbers you’re about to see

aren’t just statistics—they’re a mirror. Picture the people in your life: your kids, your partner, your coworkers, your friends, your parents—even yourself. Because this isn’t abstract research. It’s real. It’s happening in your home, your workplace, your neighborhood, right now.

The average American now checks their phone 144 times a day—almost once every ten minutes they’re awake. Adults spend more than five hours daily on their phones, while U.S. teens average over seven hours a day on screens. And it’s not just about time. More than half of Americans (57%) openly say they feel addicted to their phones.

Everywhere we look, screens are reshaping the way we live. Families argue more. Marriages strain. Teachers are exhausted trying to compete with devices in the classroom. Doctors are writing more prescriptions for anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders than ever before. Workplaces buzz with distraction, everyone stretched thin by the constant pull of the “always-on” culture.

And the reality is—we all know it. You don’t need a chart to tell you something is wrong. You can feel it in your home. You can see it in your colleagues. You can sense it in yourself.

But the numbers matter, because they reveal just how deep the problem runs. They remind us this isn’t just your family, your workplace, or your community. It’s everyone, everywhere.

Screen addiction isn’t only undermining our health and human connection—it’s quietly altering what

people value. Presence, patience, and meaningful connection are being traded for speed, validation, and distraction. Over time, this changes not just how we live, but what we believe is important.

Here’s the reality:

• Kids: Childhood is being reshaped by devices—at the cost of mental health, focus, and the development of basic life skills like communication and empathy. Teens who spend 7+ hours per day on screens are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
  

• Adults & Parents: Addicted to distraction. Time lost. Guilt mounting. The average adult spends over 35 hours a week on their phone, and 9 in 10 check it within 10 minutes of waking up.
  

• Families: Rituals replaced by screens. Connection siphoned. Nearly half of people say they’ve been “phubbed” by their partner—ignored because of a phone—an experience strongly linked to lower relationship satisfaction.
  

• Health & Society: Stress, disrupted sleep, rising prescriptions, creeping cognitive decline. More than 40% of teens report sleep problems directly tied to late-night screen use, and one recent study found addictive screen use doubles the risk of suicidal thoughts among adolescents.
  

• Core Values: And here’s the deeper cost: our values themselves are being altered. Screens aren’t just undermining health and human connection; they’re redefining what people see as important—trading presence, patience, and meaningful connection for speed, validation, and distraction.

This isn’t a wake-up call anymore—it’s a siren. Every one of us must take back our power and influence ourselves first if we’re ever going to influence others.

The Ripple Effect into How we Live and Work

What happens in our homes doesn’t stay there. The way we use our devices ripples outward—into classrooms, workplaces, friendships, and communities.

A child who struggles to focus in school grows into an adult who struggles to focus at work. A parent distracted at the dinner table often becomes a colleague or leader distracted in meetings. Families that spend more time looking at screens than talking raise the next generation of workers who feel more comfortable behind a device than face-to-face.

This isn’t just a family problem. It isn’t just a school problem. And it isn’t just a workplace problem. It’s a human problem—a societal problem. Distraction in one part of life doesn’t stay contained. It bleeds into every relationship, every role, every responsibility. If we want stronger families, healthier workplaces, and a more connected society, it starts with us. Because who we are at home is who we are everywhere else.

Screen Addiction Self-Discovery Assessment

It’s one thing to read the statistics. It’s another to get honest about your own habits. If you want to know where you stand, take a few minutes to complete this Screen Addiction Self-Discovery Assessment.

Take the Screen Addiction Assessment

Once you’ve received your score, take a moment to reflect:

1. Were there any surprises in your results?

2. What challenges do you know you’re facing when it comes to your phone, tablet, or other screen-based technology?

Awareness is the first step. Now that you’ve seen your own patterns, the question becomes: What is screen use really costing you? Next, we’ll look at how it impacts the seven most important areas of life—what I call the Seven Mountains for Growth—and what it will take to regain control.

The Impact on the Seven Mountains for Growth™

The truth about screen addiction is this: it doesn’t just eat up hours in your day. It chips away at the very foundation of your life—your health, your happiness, your relationships, your work.

Over the past three decades of research and work with clients, I’ve identified seven “Mountains for Growth.” These are the areas of life that matter most—the areas that determine your long-term happiness, success, and fulfillment. Screen addiction touches every single one of them.

1. Physical Health: Screens disrupt sleep cycles, weaken posture, and fuel sedentary habits. One study found that teens who use screens within an hour of bedtime are 62% more likely to report poor sleep quality, leaving them drained and less resilient the next day.
   

2. Emotional Well-Being: The endless scroll is no friend to mental health. Adolescents who check social media more than five times per day are three times more likely to report feeling lonely compared to those who check less frequently. That loneliness doesn’t vanish as we age—it follows us.
   

3. Relationships: Screens have become the third wheel at dinner tables, on car rides, and even in bedrooms. Nearly half of adults say their partner’s phone use regularly distracts from their relationship, with many reporting that it diminishes intimacy and trust over time.
   

4. Time & Productivity: Screens are masters at hijacking focus. The average smartphone user touches their device 2,617 times a day—every swipe, tap, and scroll pulling attention away from what matters. On social media alone, adults now spend more than 2.5 hours a day, adding up to over 17 hours a week—nearly half a work week devoted to scrolling.

   
   

It doesn’t stop there. Research shows that when we try to juggle multiple digital tasks, we’re up to 40% less productive than if we focused on one thing at a time. And one study found that nearly an entire workday each week is lost to time spent on smartphones for non-work activity.

Every so-called ‘quick check’ has a hidden cost—and those seconds quietly steal hours of your life.

5. Career: An “always-on” culture has blurred the line between work and life. More than 70% of employees say their work/life boundaries have eroded because of constant connectivity and expectations to respond outside of working hours. The result? Rising burnout and a workforce running on empty.
   

6. Finances: Screens are now the storefront for impulse spending. The average American spends $133 per month on digital subscriptions, and nearly half admit they forget to cancel services they don’t use. What looks like small, automated charges quickly adds up to thousands of dollars a year.
   

7. Contribution: Screens don’t just steal time from our families and our work—they steal it from our communities. Volunteerism in the U.S. has declined by nearly 15% in the past two decades, with researchers pointing to digital distraction and time displacement as contributing factors.

No part of life is untouched. From your health to your finances, from your family table to your

productivity and impact at work, the cost of unchecked screen use is staggering. But here’s the good news: once you see it, you can start to change it. And with the right plan, you can reclaim each of these mountains and live more in alignment with what you truly value.

A Better Way Forward — Technology with Intention

At this point, it would be easy to feel discouraged—even hopeless. The research is sobering. The stories are painful. The impact touches every part of life. But here’s the truth: the problem isn’t the technology itself. It’s how we use it.

A smartphone is a tool. In the right hands, with the right boundaries, it can be one of the greatest tools humanity has ever created. It can connect us to loved ones, give us access to unlimited learning, help us build businesses, and even deepen our relationships—if we use it with intention.

The key is this: don’t let the tool use you. Use the tool wisely.

That begins with small, deliberate steps. Steps that help you take back control of your time, your energy, and your attention.

Here are a few practical ways to get started:

• Phone-Free Zones: Make meals, family gatherings, and bedrooms sacred spaces without devices.

• Digital Sabbaths: Take one evening a week—or even just a few hours—to unplug completely. Notice how your mood and energy shift.

• Notice the “I’m just…” moments: Catch yourself when you say, “I’m just checking…” or “I’m just responding…”. These little justifications are quiet cues that the screen is stealing presence. Awareness is the first step to changing the pattern.

• Do Not Disturb with Purpose: Use the setting intentionally—during conversations, meals, or deep work—to signal to yourself and others that they matter more than the buzz in your pocket.

These aren’t gimmicks. They’re proven techniques that retrain your brain, build mental toughness, and align your habits with your values. Over time, these small shifts compound into something bigger: a life that feels less distracted and more alive.

And that’s the point. Technology isn’t going away. It’s only going to get smarter, faster, and more persuasive. The real question is whether we’ll keep letting it pull us away from what matters most— or whether we’ll build the determination and discipline to take back control.

At its core, this is about living in alignment with your values—your rules for life—and reclaiming your health, your relationships, your purpose, and your peace of mind.

The revolution changed everything. The reliance is costing us more than we realize. But the

choice—the power to use technology intentionally and reclaim your life—is still in your hands.

What Do You Value Most?

Steve Jobs was right in 2007: the iPhone did change everything. But what he didn’t tell us—what none of us fully saw coming—was how this technology would challenge the very core of our lives.

This isn’t just about time wasted on a screen. It’s about what screens have quietly stolen from us: our presence at the dinner table, our focus at work, our calm at the end of the day. More importantly, it’s about how easily our daily choices slip out of alignment with what we say we value most—our health, our families, our purpose, our faith, our relationships, our dreams.

That’s the real cost of screen addiction. It doesn’t just distract you. It distances you from who you want to be. But here’s the good news: self-worth and mental strength can be rebuilt. By becoming more aware, by recommitting to what matters, and by practicing the skills of mental toughness— determination to make a change, discipline to follow through, and resilience when the world pulls you back toward the screen—you can take back control.

The truth is, many of us have become prisoners to our phones. Again, they call them “CELL” phones for a reason. But we hold the key. We can step out of the cell and take back control. The question is not whether screens will keep calling for your attention. They will. The question is: what do you value most, and are you willing to fight for it?

Because in the end, this isn’t really a story about technology. It’s about you. Your values. Your rules for life. And your decision to reclaim them—one choice, one habit, one day at a time.

Live your brand NOW,

Gregg