What is the true cost of work? | Chris Endrey | TEDxCanberra

what do you do it’s a harmless enough

what do you do it’s a harmless enough question that’s one that we face all the

question that’s one that we face all the

question that’s one that we face all the time I hate it I hate it largely because

time I hate it I hate it largely because

time I hate it I hate it largely because I have no idea of what I’m doing but

I have no idea of what I’m doing but

I have no idea of what I’m doing but what indeed are any of us doing the

what indeed are any of us doing the

what indeed are any of us doing the theme today is momentum and I’d like to

theme today is momentum and I’d like to

theme today is momentum and I’d like to start off by acknowledging that momentum

start off by acknowledging that momentum

start off by acknowledging that momentum sounds like a great thing but it isn’t

sounds like a great thing but it isn’t

sounds like a great thing but it isn’t inherently so is after all possible to

inherently so is after all possible to

inherently so is after all possible to achieve a great momentum as you sprint

achieve a great momentum as you sprint

achieve a great momentum as you sprint face-first into a brick wall so what are

face-first into a brick wall so what are

face-first into a brick wall so what are we using our collective momentum in a

we using our collective momentum in a

we using our collective momentum in a dove well one mammatus thing is that

dove well one mammatus thing is that

dove well one mammatus thing is that we’re working more than ever and we were

we’re working more than ever and we were

we’re working more than ever and we were also working harder than ever we’re 60%

also working harder than ever we’re 60%

also working harder than ever we’re 60% more productive than we were just three

more productive than we were just three

more productive than we were just three decades ago so we’ve amassed a great

decades ago so we’ve amassed a great

decades ago so we’ve amassed a great amount of wealth which is a great

amount of wealth which is a great

amount of wealth which is a great benefit but there’s an equivalent cost

benefit but there’s an equivalent cost

benefit but there’s an equivalent cost and what I want today is for all us to

and what I want today is for all us to

and what I want today is for all us to reflect upon whether we think that that

reflect upon whether we think that that

reflect upon whether we think that that benefit is indeed worthy of the cost and

benefit is indeed worthy of the cost and

benefit is indeed worthy of the cost and I don’t come to this by being some high

I don’t come to this by being some high

I don’t come to this by being some high altruist reflecting on the glory of our

altruist reflecting on the glory of our

altruist reflecting on the glory of our species I come to it because I’m around

species I come to it because I’m around

species I come to it because I’m around during the day and I am bored dead bored

during the day and I am bored dead bored

during the day and I am bored dead bored is known around I could walk my dog

is known around I could walk my dog

is known around I could walk my dog within the shadow of this nation’s

within the shadow of this nation’s

within the shadow of this nation’s Parliament without encountering a single

Parliament without encountering a single

Parliament without encountering a single soul typically the only people you find

soul typically the only people you find

soul typically the only people you find out in the day are women with babies

out in the day are women with babies

out in the day are women with babies where are all the men is there a war on

where are all the men is there a war on

where are all the men is there a war on critically why wasn’t I invited even

critically why wasn’t I invited even

critically why wasn’t I invited even then the women you do find typically

then the women you do find typically

then the women you do find typically clad in active we’re jogging the pram

clad in active we’re jogging the pram

clad in active we’re jogging the pram maybe got a podcast in the ear and it

maybe got a podcast in the ear and it

maybe got a podcast in the ear and it looks very much to me like everyone’s

looks very much to me like everyone’s

looks very much to me like everyone’s trying to eat every inch of value out of

trying to eat every inch of value out of

trying to eat every inch of value out of every minute of their precious maternity

every minute of their precious maternity

every minute of their precious maternity leave why should this be the case well

leave why should this be the case well

leave why should this be the case well it could be that we’re working harder

it could be that we’re working harder

it could be that we’re working harder than ever because we love our jobs more

than ever because we love our jobs more

than ever because we love our jobs more than ever

I’m not convinced that that is the truth

I’m not convinced that that is the truth and I think one clue is in the language

and I think one clue is in the language

and I think one clue is in the language that we use we talk about

that we use we talk about

that we use we talk about I hate Monday we start our week with it

I hate Monday we start our week with it

I hate Monday we start our week with it ashen faced

ashen faced

ashen faced I hate Monday then we grip our way

I hate Monday then we grip our way

I hate Monday then we grip our way white-knuckle over hump day on our way

white-knuckle over hump day on our way

white-knuckle over hump day on our way hallelujah thank God it’s Friday thank

hallelujah thank God it’s Friday thank

hallelujah thank God it’s Friday thank God but we invented the days of the week

God but we invented the days of the week

God but we invented the days of the week if they’re not serving us surely we can

if they’re not serving us surely we can

if they’re not serving us surely we can reinvent them they’re not a law of

reinvent them they’re not a law of

reinvent them they’re not a law of nature after all and why why should this

nature after all and why why should this

nature after all and why why should this be the case well we also talked about

be the case well we also talked about

be the case well we also talked about taking a Mental Health Day it’s a

taking a Mental Health Day it’s a

taking a Mental Health Day it’s a familiar one you say you want to take a

familiar one you say you want to take a

familiar one you say you want to take a mental health day your friend will often

mental health day your friend will often

mental health day your friend will often look upon you sympathetically yes it’s

look upon you sympathetically yes it’s

look upon you sympathetically yes it’s so important you must take care of your

so important you must take care of your

so important you must take care of your mental health as though we tacitly

mental health as though we tacitly

mental health as though we tacitly understand even worse except that good

understand even worse except that good

understand even worse except that good mental health is somehow fundamentally

mental health is somehow fundamentally

mental health is somehow fundamentally incompatible with our daily lives we

incompatible with our daily lives we

incompatible with our daily lives we talked about a getaway oh I love nothing

talked about a getaway oh I love nothing

talked about a getaway oh I love nothing more than just to be able to jump on a

more than just to be able to jump on a

more than just to be able to jump on a plane roll out on a beach and just get

plane roll out on a beach and just get

plane roll out on a beach and just get away from it all it all being what

away from it all it all being what

away from it all it all being what exactly our entire lives the aggregate

exactly our entire lives the aggregate

exactly our entire lives the aggregate of every decision we’ve ever made

of every decision we’ve ever made

of every decision we’ve ever made everything we’ve built that’s what we

everything we’ve built that’s what we

everything we’ve built that’s what we want to get away from madness the unions

want to get away from madness the unions

want to get away from madness the unions of old fought for eight eight eight

of old fought for eight eight eight

of old fought for eight eight eight eight hours of work eight hours of

eight hours of work eight hours of

eight hours of work eight hours of leisure and eight hours of rest but it

leisure and eight hours of rest but it

leisure and eight hours of rest but it seems to me to be a bit of an unfair

seems to me to be a bit of an unfair

seems to me to be a bit of an unfair trade because not all hours are created

trade because not all hours are created

trade because not all hours are created equal we spend the best eight hours at

equal we spend the best eight hours at

equal we spend the best eight hours at work then the sixteen that remain to us

work then the sixteen that remain to us

work then the sixteen that remain to us here are largely spent in a frozen

here are largely spent in a frozen

here are largely spent in a frozen hellscape

it’s all very reminiscent the wall in

it’s all very reminiscent the wall in that show that everybody’s watching

that show that everybody’s watching

that show that everybody’s watching except we’re not out there beyond the

except we’re not out there beyond the

except we’re not out there beyond the wall because we get home we’re so tired

wall because we get home we’re so tired

wall because we get home we’re so tired we pour ourselves into a glass of wine

we pour ourselves into a glass of wine

we pour ourselves into a glass of wine because we need to relax why because

because we need to relax why because

because we need to relax why because we’re drinking coffee all day and of

we’re drinking coffee all day and of

we’re drinking coffee all day and of course it’s incomplete idleness that

course it’s incomplete idleness that

course it’s incomplete idleness that we’ve been doing this so we then go to

we’ve been doing this so we then go to

we’ve been doing this so we then go to the gym burn out something and by the

the gym burn out something and by the

the gym burn out something and by the time we get home we’ve only got a couple

time we get home we’ve only got a couple

time we get home we’ve only got a couple hours to just bliss out and watch that

hours to just bliss out and watch that

hours to just bliss out and watch that show that everybody’s been watching and

show that everybody’s been watching and

show that everybody’s been watching and I think it’s telling that the dominant

I think it’s telling that the dominant

I think it’s telling that the dominant art of our time Game of Thrones is one

art of our time Game of Thrones is one

art of our time Game of Thrones is one that feeds us on a diet of

that feeds us on a diet of

that feeds us on a diet of hyper-stylized sex violence and human

hyper-stylized sex violence and human

hyper-stylized sex violence and human conflict things that are tellingly

conflict things that are tellingly

conflict things that are tellingly absent from our daily lives and I think

absent from our daily lives and I think

absent from our daily lives and I think that we’re consuming more about

that we’re consuming more about

that we’re consuming more about identities because we have less and less

identities because we have less and less

identities because we have less and less time which brings to mind another term

time which brings to mind another term

time which brings to mind another term retail therapy we’re working harder and

retail therapy we’re working harder and

retail therapy we’re working harder and harder try to toil endlessly with a

harder try to toil endlessly with a

harder try to toil endlessly with a fearful eye on an insatiable future and

fearful eye on an insatiable future and

fearful eye on an insatiable future and it may feel like it’s always been thus

it may feel like it’s always been thus

it may feel like it’s always been thus but it actually hasn’t it’s relatively

but it actually hasn’t it’s relatively

but it actually hasn’t it’s relatively recent for our species this phenomenon

recent for our species this phenomenon

recent for our species this phenomenon and more and more thinkers identify one

and more and more thinkers identify one

and more and more thinkers identify one turning point as responsible which is

turning point as responsible which is

turning point as responsible which is incredibly one of our greatest

incredibly one of our greatest

incredibly one of our greatest achievements settled agriculture because

achievements settled agriculture because

achievements settled agriculture because once we settled down and we could

once we settled down and we could

once we settled down and we could accumulate wealth on this spot well

accumulate wealth on this spot well

accumulate wealth on this spot well there was always something more to do

there was always something more to do

there was always something more to do always more work to do always some some

always more work to do always some some

always more work to do always some some soldiers to send out and accrue more

soldiers to send out and accrue more

soldiers to send out and accrue more wealth or defend our something to do

wealth or defend our something to do

wealth or defend our something to do constantly busy in fact Jared Diamond

constantly busy in fact Jared Diamond

constantly busy in fact Jared Diamond described settled agriculture as a

described settled agriculture as a

described settled agriculture as a catastrophe from which our species has

catastrophe from which our species has

catastrophe from which our species has never recovered strong words from a very

never recovered strong words from a very

never recovered strong words from a very clever man how might this catastrophe

clever man how might this catastrophe

clever man how might this catastrophe cast a shadow into our own life well for

cast a shadow into our own life well for

cast a shadow into our own life well for mine I believe that it’s in this

mine I believe that it’s in this

mine I believe that it’s in this artificial time deficit that we all

artificial time deficit that we all

artificial time deficit that we all experienced many of us are here will be

experienced many of us are here will be

experienced many of us are here will be familiar with Jevons paradox Jevons

familiar with Jevons paradox Jevons

familiar with Jevons paradox Jevons paradox posits that the more efficiently

paradox posits that the more efficiently

paradox posits that the more efficiently we’re able to use a resource the quicker

we’re able to use a resource the quicker

we’re able to use a resource the quicker we are to deplete it so if you think of

we are to deplete it so if you think of

we are to deplete it so if you think of something like petrol

something like petrol

something like petrol our cars are maybe twice as efficient as

our cars are maybe twice as efficient as

our cars are maybe twice as efficient as a generation ago that doesn’t mean we

a generation ago that doesn’t mean we

a generation ago that doesn’t mean we use half as much petrol we’re using more

use half as much petrol we’re using more

use half as much petrol we’re using more oil than ever I think that this

oil than ever I think that this

oil than ever I think that this intellectual toolkit can be applied to

intellectual toolkit can be applied to

intellectual toolkit can be applied to time in our lives we’re never been more

time in our lives we’re never been more

time in our lives we’re never been more able to access information contact

able to access information contact

able to access information contact friends be productive and yet we seem to

friends be productive and yet we seem to

friends be productive and yet we seem to feel shorter and shorter on time it’s

feel shorter and shorter on time it’s

feel shorter and shorter on time it’s not just in phenomena such as increasing

not just in phenomena such as increasing

not just in phenomena such as increasing work hours it’s also present in things

work hours it’s also present in things

work hours it’s also present in things like a reduction in volunteering rates

like a reduction in volunteering rates

like a reduction in volunteering rates which are down significantly even just

which are down significantly even just

which are down significantly even just from five years ago we are a status

from five years ago we are a status

from five years ago we are a status motivated hierarchical species and I

motivated hierarchical species and I

motivated hierarchical species and I believe that the answer to that question

believe that the answer to that question

believe that the answer to that question what do you do the noun that we give in

what do you do the noun that we give in

what do you do the noun that we give in response is so powerful that it can

response is so powerful that it can

response is so powerful that it can guide our entire lives in directions in

guide our entire lives in directions in

guide our entire lives in directions in which we may were otherwise not wish to

which we may were otherwise not wish to

which we may were otherwise not wish to have gone take for example some who

have gone take for example some who

have gone take for example some who identifies as a creative now they may

identifies as a creative now they may

identifies as a creative now they may not relish drawing up steel production

not relish drawing up steel production

not relish drawing up steel production reports for a company all day as long as

reports for a company all day as long as

reports for a company all day as long as I can go home with wouldn’t rimmed

I can go home with wouldn’t rimmed

I can go home with wouldn’t rimmed glasses and outfit from gorman and the

glasses and outfit from gorman and the

glasses and outfit from gorman and the title of graphic designer suddenly it’s

title of graphic designer suddenly it’s

title of graphic designer suddenly it’s a much easier cross to bear

similarly if you reflect on someone who

similarly if you reflect on someone who spent years studying ecology well they

spent years studying ecology well they

spent years studying ecology well they may be outright conflicted when it’s

may be outright conflicted when it’s

may be outright conflicted when it’s their job to produce the report that

their job to produce the report that

their job to produce the report that green lights the bulldozer that clears

green lights the bulldozer that clears

green lights the bulldozer that clears yet another swamp and pushes yet another

yet another swamp and pushes yet another

yet another swamp and pushes yet another set of species closer to extinction but

set of species closer to extinction but

set of species closer to extinction but this dissonance is far easier to pave if

this dissonance is far easier to pave if

this dissonance is far easier to pave if they’ve got a card in their pocket that

they’ve got a card in their pocket that

they’ve got a card in their pocket that says environmental consultant it’s in

says environmental consultant it’s in

says environmental consultant it’s in the name it must be environmental this

the name it must be environmental this

the name it must be environmental this phenomenon is never more telling for me

phenomenon is never more telling for me

phenomenon is never more telling for me than when we look at our school levers

than when we look at our school levers

than when we look at our school levers the decision kids make when they’re

the decision kids make when they’re

the decision kids make when they’re leaving schools very indicative

leaving schools very indicative

leaving schools very indicative theoretically if you’re the top

theoretically if you’re the top

theoretically if you’re the top achieving student you get the best

achieving student you get the best

achieving student you get the best grades you should be able to choose from

grades you should be able to choose from

grades you should be able to choose from the entire pantheon of human activity

the entire pantheon of human activity

the entire pantheon of human activity whatever you desire should be able to be

whatever you desire should be able to be

whatever you desire should be able to be yours how sadly telling it is that a top

yours how sadly telling it is that a top

yours how sadly telling it is that a top school leaders instead instead choose

school leaders instead instead choose

school leaders instead instead choose from a very narrow bandwidth of the

from a very narrow bandwidth of the

from a very narrow bandwidth of the courses for which their grade qualifies

courses for which their grade qualifies

courses for which their grade qualifies them not being one who wants to waste

them not being one who wants to waste

them not being one who wants to waste their score you can see that there’ll be

their score you can see that there’ll be

their score you can see that there’ll be those in your own lives it’s not

those in your own lives it’s not

those in your own lives it’s not yourself who is pursued at perhaps

yourself who is pursued at perhaps

yourself who is pursued at perhaps prestigious discipline such as law

prestigious discipline such as law

prestigious discipline such as law without any primary interest in it

without any primary interest in it

without any primary interest in it and this decision that we make is an

and this decision that we make is an

and this decision that we make is an under stress ill-informed

under stress ill-informed

under stress ill-informed seventeen-year-old can inform our whole

seventeen-year-old can inform our whole

seventeen-year-old can inform our whole lives because of our ability to navigate

lives because of our ability to navigate

lives because of our ability to navigate and I like natural cognitive resistance

and I like natural cognitive resistance

and I like natural cognitive resistance to sunk costs you could see how like

to sunk costs you could see how like

to sunk costs you could see how like well I got the grade I should do the

well I got the grade I should do the

well I got the grade I should do the course well I got the course I should do

course well I got the course I should do

course well I got the course I should do the job

the job

the job oh well I’ve been here for ten years I

oh well I’ve been here for ten years I

oh well I’ve been here for ten years I worked very hard to be where I am I

worked very hard to be where I am I

worked very hard to be where I am I should continue doing listen to the best

should continue doing listen to the best

should continue doing listen to the best that I can perhaps never taking a

that I can perhaps never taking a

that I can perhaps never taking a gateway to reflect that you may have

gateway to reflect that you may have

gateway to reflect that you may have been happier the whole time just

been happier the whole time just

been happier the whole time just learning to plant a garden or sail ships

learning to plant a garden or sail ships

learning to plant a garden or sail ships and of course the inverse is true

and of course the inverse is true

and of course the inverse is true depending on your social expectations

depending on your social expectations

depending on your social expectations and isn’t that ultimately what all this

and isn’t that ultimately what all this

and isn’t that ultimately what all this toil is for the pursuit of some nebulous

toil is for the pursuit of some nebulous

toil is for the pursuit of some nebulous concept of happiness

concept of happiness

concept of happiness well increasingly the more we understand

well increasingly the more we understand

well increasingly the more we understand about happiness the less it seems to

about happiness the less it seems to

about happiness the less it seems to resemble how we structured our modern

resemble how we structured our modern

resemble how we structured our modern work lives is it any wonder then that we

work lives is it any wonder then that we

work lives is it any wonder then that we are wading through a mental health

are wading through a mental health

are wading through a mental health crisis many things are innate to

crisis many things are innate to

crisis many things are innate to everyday species experience until recent

everyday species experience until recent

everyday species experience until recent history are removed from us for example

history are removed from us for example

history are removed from us for example exercising through nature hanging out

exercising through nature hanging out

exercising through nature hanging out with friends spending all day in your

with friends spending all day in your

with friends spending all day in your closest moments with your dear family

closest moments with your dear family

closest moments with your dear family pursuing exciting sexual encounters

pursuing exciting sexual encounters

pursuing exciting sexual encounters mastering a skill these things are

mastering a skill these things are

mastering a skill these things are increasingly divorced from if not

increasingly divorced from if not

increasingly divorced from if not explicitly forbidden from our daily

explicitly forbidden from our daily

explicitly forbidden from our daily working lives I’m not saying that the

working lives I’m not saying that the

working lives I’m not saying that the work that we do is useless obviously a

work that we do is useless obviously a

work that we do is useless obviously a huge amount of it is obviously a huge

huge amount of it is obviously a huge

huge amount of it is obviously a huge amount of it is incredibly vital

amount of it is incredibly vital

amount of it is incredibly vital I’m just asking us to reflect upon

I’m just asking us to reflect upon

I’m just asking us to reflect upon whether we think the role of work in our

whether we think the role of work in our

whether we think the role of work in our society and how we’re doing it is

society and how we’re doing it is

society and how we’re doing it is designed to benefit us or if the

designed to benefit us or if the

designed to benefit us or if the benefits that we do get are commensurate

benefits that we do get are commensurate

benefits that we do get are commensurate with the cost that we’re paying and

with the cost that we’re paying and

with the cost that we’re paying and perhaps you can conduct a little

perhaps you can conduct a little

perhaps you can conduct a little experiment in your own life maybe go

experiment in your own life maybe go

experiment in your own life maybe go down to a three-day week six hour a day

down to a three-day week six hour a day

down to a three-day week six hour a day come hang out with me in the Sun and buy

come hang out with me in the Sun and buy

come hang out with me in the Sun and buy tickets tour my shows at night thank you

tickets tour my shows at night thank you

tickets tour my shows at night thank you you