Earned Freedom
Two thousand five hundred years ago, the Greek historian Herodotus established a myth that has endured to this day: he wrote that the pyramids of Egypt were built by hundreds of thousands of slaves. The image of grueling labor under the scorching desert sun, driven by the violent lash of the whip, was presented to us as the only explanation for such a colossal undertaking.
Yet, when compared to examples of magnificent, more recent works whose processes are well known to us—I speak of the construction of European cathedrals, in which specialized stonemasons participated, often achieving a good standard of living and recognition—it was not until new archaeological evidence emerged in the late 20th century that we managed to debunk the myth.
The pyramids were built by free, specialized workers who enjoyed good housing, food, and living conditions in general. And just as stonemasons in the Middle Ages worked to erect a structure dedicated to God, the Egyptian workers had motivations more powerful than the fear of the whip's tip.
Over the last few decades, a similar myth has been established, symbolized by the 996 culture (working from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 6 days a week), as the formula for success. From Wall Street executives in the 1980s to Silicon Valley engineers, the idea of working tirelessly to advance has been ingrained in our minds through movies, series, and all kinds of publications.
Something so deeply rooted in popular culture is very difficult to change, even though historical evidence tells us that human progress systematically involves a reduction in manual and repetitive effort and an increase in productivity. Every tool, from the invention of the wheel to computers, has freed humans from a heavy burden, allowing them to do more work in less time.
Now we appear to be on the verge of the age of Artificial Intelligence, and the evidence shows that we can be far more productive with much less physical effort. But this does not mean we can afford to fold our arms and wait for rewards to rain down from the sky: we must strive to provide value.
To be free stonemasons, not slaves.
Providing value implies an investment: an initial effort to acquire knowledge, skills, and experience that allow us to stand out as professionals. It also implies continuous effort to stay current and deliver the maximum quality in the shortest possible time. And finally, it implies an effort to establish contacts, alliances, and ensure visibility as a path to progress.
Living in a privileged time and place should not lead us to take all privileges for granted: they must be earned. As a free human, you can choose to do the bare minimum and settle for the minimum reward, or give the maximum possible to go one step further. But you cannot expect free rides: if you only give the minimum, do not be surprised if the reward never arrives.
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