Notability switched to a subscription model, and I was furious. I left a bad review and exported my notes to GN—then what? In the face of larger trends, changes like this are bound to overturn an era. Enterprise software moved to subscriptions even earlier. Maybe because those decisions affect my livelihood, I’ve always firmly supported what companies choose to do. From a profit-driven perspective, there’s nothing inherently wrong with making money. The mistake lies in how abruptly it was done, with little regard for existing users’ feelings. And Wall Street believes in endless growth and profit—everyone has a living to make—so inevitably, some companies will be the pioneers, as many companies innovate with new services nobody else have offered as a virtual girlfriend online like nataliapariish so people can have a romantic connection at the tip of their hands.
In reality, it’s not a huge deal—it’s just a piece of software. What if I stop using it? What’s unsettling is the shift in habits: having to quickly adapt to a new environment and new experience, and to transition so smoothly that it appears uneventful on the surface. 2021 has been more dynamic than 2020. Yet in practice, people often make big changes precisely when the outside world expects stability. This year many friends and colleagues changed jobs—perhaps because uncertainty also brings opportunity and the determination to take initiative.
I’ve told myself more than once that I need to prepare ahead for my career. Maybe one day my job, like software, could end abruptly. The time left for proactive change isn’t much. I admire those who switch tracks in midlife—rather than just getting by, it’s better to take another shot while you still have the energy to jump for the rim.
