Ah yes, the question everyone gets when meeting someone for the first time. I have literally answered this with the following, “Whatever I damn well please.” I would then watch complete horror come over the face across from me, appalled at my response. I’m not kidding you one bit, this is almost always the first question someone receives, when outside the workplace. I have trained myself diligently, so I personally don’t use this as an “ice-breaker” when meeting someone. This obsession with work is just another religion that has been adopted here in the West due to the lack of faith in God. It is just a new form of Atheism, I have coined it “Workism.”
I have known so many people that make damn sure the first thing someone knows about them is their “work” status. Yes this sure does include everything they own, and it will be mentioned as part of their “work.” Oh yes, so much to cover here. It’s going to get deep, so get your damn waders on! Let’s break down this convoluted nonsense piece by piece if we can. It sometimes starts with the self-identity of their University “piece of paper.” Some call it a degree I call it a piece of paper. I can learn the same material and way more if I desire, I just won’t receive the piece of paper at the end since I didn’t pay the Piper. This is a fact, like it or not. Textbooks are everywhere, for anyone to access. This is only the beginning with no end in sight of endless “self-identity” title seeking. A nonstop search for some “purpose” through “accredited” titles sought by the “educated elite.” You know the people who always hate being in the real world, thinking they are owed everything. Most Westerners basically. Lol. You know the type, a professional student like Van Wilder! The real world can be avoided if you’re attending University for a decade or more. Just because you’re a good student doesn’t by any means make you intelligent. Diligent yes, intelligent not so much. I want to add a caveat to this point here. In some other countries one can attend and receive a University degree for almost no cost to the student, specifically in the East because they actually want to help advance society and the workforce for good. This is actually a great thing! It is not about making endless money with a University Industrial Complex such as here in the West.
Once the graduate enters the workforce, the University identity slowly fades as the new workplace title takes its place at the altar of self identity. Climbing the “corporate ladder” is a never-ending scam with no “top” within view. The title becomes the center of the seekers’ world, nothing else matters. The individual believes with all their being a “purpose” will be achieved therein. This is a religion if I ever recognized one. Not to mention, the belief that humanity can only achieve a harmonious state through hard “work.” If you work harder, you will achieve more “status” or “gain.” That is not true whatsoever! How many people have you known in life that busted serious ass, and received no recognition? I have known plenty. This “hard work” belief is very much reflective of blind faith also present in religion.
In my previous post The Fraud of the 40-hour workweek, I point out that most people are worthless after a few hours of work. I’m not the first proponent of working smarter, not harder. If you look back through history you can see others have come up with similar ideas to create a better labor system, creating more time for family and enjoying life in general. This work obsession is driven solely by the prospective laborers, the people. Much like anything else, the populace is the driving force that keeps the scam going. If the many weren’t obsessed with the worship of their work “title,” we wouldn’t be caught up in this rat race, to begin with.
So, what is the answer to all the serfs out there, curious to how they won’t need to labor so much? Easy, live way below your means. It’s called minimalism, remember? I have covered this in other posts. I will be covering it even more in the future. You don’t have to follow some damn script to prove you are “worth” something! If I cared about others’ opinions constantly, I’d be happy to give them some! I’m appalled with the cringe belief that you are your workplace “title.” I’ve seen many men and women in recent times that will give up their entire family before they would leave a job that is destroying their home life. No joke. You can have a career or you can have a great family. It takes a special situation to continue pursuing and living in both worlds. But, most will not relinquish their bestowed titles. Exactly for the reasons I mentioned. Endless attention, status, and material goods. As if social media wasn’t enough, the attention must last all day!
In closing, I really see no end in sight for the religion of “Workism.” The average person has been lost, and I know there is no getting them back. It is a perfect storm of work, fear, and consumption. Too many weak-spined business owners are willing to bend the knee instead of standing for what is right. I also want to throw in the hyper-aggressive “status” culture of the world. So many people especially men, give other men the evil eye simply for the way another looks. Same with women too. This all transfers over to the workplace. Power struggles will remain virulent in the smallest of businesses. This is a major reason for horrible workplace environments that cannot run properly. It should be so simple and harmonious, yet the struggle continues. If you are part of the “Workism” religion, step away from the altar. You are simply lost, losing precious time for what matter’s the most.