Most people I know don't want to read long sentences, are less likely to read a paragraph, and wouldn't at gunpoint consider reading anything as long as this. And by profession, they're habitually making sweeping generalizations and trafficking inconvenient details under the nearest carpet, expertly playing fast and loose with the truth. To them, the truth is anathema, and they'd much rather put cotton in their ears. Sentences have eroded into fragments of their former selves, often without the inconvenience of punctuation. But these are the feelings that have welled up, and I needed to express myself without the paucity of words as I continue my search for greener pastures. And although it might seem like a narrative leaning on the pathology of my own people, it is my understanding that we can recover from it if we stop ignoring it—the chapter of indignities, or perhaps an inevitable tryst with misfortune. No matter how I see my time between coming back from the US and now, that exposure has left an indelible mark on the trajectory of my dreams. I've made all the mistakes I can make in a lifetime, and I still have a little bit of life left, so I hope to make the most of it.
Are developed nations morally superior to developing countries? No, people are the same everywhere. If given a chance, in the absence of laws and standards, and even in the presence of regulations, if they can get away with it, they will. Idiosyncrasies always lean towards exploitation, and there's no shortage of excuses. That's the reason why people hide nefarious and ulterior intentions behind self-righteous, condescending, and patronizing behavior. Exploitation takes on various shades, but mainly it's paying less or forcing overtime. Gaslighting in various forms, incorporating help from the heavens, or praying for the employee when a decent median salary at par with the earthly regulations would be far more appreciated. Indians in foreign lands carry the corruption with them, creating a mini-Indian eccentric bubble of nepotism, favoritism, and loopholes that exploit the knowledge of the desperation that they are privy to. If there's a difference of skin color, color of hat, or country of origin, you can scream discrimination, but not when the guy looks and talks like a duck, and so must be a duck, and hence above reproach.
Most people wouldn't survive the fall, the distance I've traveled, or the injuries I've sustained. While people go hullabaloo over success, I think there are more lessons in failing, whatever the reason. As someone with an inbuilt initiative-centric entrepreneurial mindset, I've seen the darkness not just in other people's minds but in my own. I've understood how fragile our reality really is. And just an inch away from what you think is a perfect life lies an invisible envelope that you can move into. And when that happens, it changes everything, and you have another sort of perfect world, except one that's entirely upside-down. It's a travesty that we don't think, or even when we do, it's clouded with imperfections from the various lenses we are taught to wear. Very few people live after this improved perception; the shock is just too much for the faint of heart.
To be an entrepreneur, you not only have to be mad but strive to be mad enough to take a cruel gamble on a lifetime—most of it won't be in your control. Being at the helm is an illusion when the market, the economic reality of finances, the competition and idiosyncrasies of partners, investors, employees, and many other indeterminate shadowy figures determine the course of a venture. Inveterate honesty often stands in the way because of the machiavellian constructs that define capitalism.
You have to stoop as low or lower in moral standing in the market you are competing in to be considered a member. At least in the Indian market, the reality is that every link in the chain is cursed by inefficiency, corruption, and incompetence, either separately or sometimes all at once, at every level of the hierarchy. The instability brought on by regulatory frameworks that are used as tools to coax bribes or close your shop inevitably works against you. It's not simply alright to abide; in the absence of trust, a bribe is the only stamp of approval, or one form or another of political retributive justice will prevail. When the whole system is corrupt and every bribe is arbitrary, funds are always insufficient. Any fleeting sense of self-worth evaporates in the heat of the aftermath, and you're far worse off than when you started.
People who only say confident things and give off a gleaming appearance of positivity are usually overcompensating for their insecurities. They have to hide behind a front because they think it's wrong to be comfortable with insecurities. But from experience, I know the best way to deal with life is head-on. Difficulties and failures are a part of everyone's lives and businesses as well. Wearing colored goggles and burying one's head in the sand never helped. I have a clear-eyed, rational, and practical worldview that helps me weigh the pros and cons without bias. and that's really key.
Unrealistic expectations often lead to unhealthy outcomes. It's better to plan properly and go step by step; rushing into decisions with blinkers on isn't the best way to go about a venture. I've felt the headwinds, I understand the stakes and the pitfalls, and I advise people to be cautious. Productivity is a term that's become trite through abuse and overuse. Once upon a time, it meant doing more in less time. But now, it's just a sneaky way for companies to extract more sweat from their employees for less pay. How convenient it would be for them, you'd think, but not really.
It's a bleak reality that the average worker is expected to do more with less. Overburdened, stressed, and undervalued, it's a wonder how anyone manages to survive the daily grind. And for what? to produce subpar products and services that barely scrape by? Work, once a source of fulfillment, has been reduced to just a means to an end and a bragging social membership badge. It's no longer about creating something of value or making a difference in the world. It's just a necessary evil, something to endure in exchange for a paycheck. The irony of it all is that the very definition of productivity has become a reflection of its opposite. In this dystopian world of distorted productivity where greed and exploitation reign supreme, where work is a chore and employees are just disposable resources, the so-called progress has taken us backwards. It's a sorry state of affairs, but who needs dignity and respect anyway? If we can get money, that's really all we need, isn't it?
It is time for companies and employers to understand that bona fide productivity comes from investing in their employees, providing them with the tools and resources they need to do their jobs well, and valuing their contributions. And, and this can't be overstated, paying them a living wage. As the genie Index shows us, this isn't happening, and the gap is extreme. At one point, the people who pay for the goods are going to go below the threshold. It is time for us to work together, to support one another, and to create a better world where work is meaningful and people are treated with respect and dignity. The future depends on it, and you can't run away from the future; it's coming at you.
