Photo by Content Pixie, Unsplash.

When you buy a new toothpaste, you usually press it without thinking. Too much comes out and it does not feel like a problem. But when the toothpaste is almost finished, you use it slowly and carefully. You try to get the most out of it. The toothpaste did not change, but your behavior did.

This happens because scarcity changes how we think. When something feels unlimited, we do not manage it well. When it feels limited, we become more focused and intentional. Value is not only about what something is, but also about how available it feels.

The same pattern appears with access to a mentor or a tech lead. When a mentor is always available, people ask questions quickly and without preparation. They rely on instant answers instead of thinking first. Over time, learning becomes shallow and the mentor’s time is used inefficiently.

When access is limited or scheduled, everything changes. People think more deeply before asking. Questions become clearer and more meaningful. Conversations have more impact and learning sticks longer. The mentor did not change, but scarcity made the interaction more valuable.

So what should we do? We should design scarcity on purpose. Protect focus, limit access, and create space for thinking before asking. Not everything needs to be always available. Sometimes, less access creates better learning and stronger decisions.