great question here: 'How does one create a purposeful professional life when the definition of a “professional life” seems to change every six months or so?'
answer: i don't know, but please subscribe to my substack and my everything!
I’d take a slightly more optimistic approach to the technological revolution we are in. Yes, lots of traditionally ‘good’ jobs are going away, but a lot of those people never really wanted to do anyways. It was just a way to make money, run a career in a job they didn’t care, to hopefully enjoy the last decade or so of their life. Now, there seems so much more opportunity to be able to actually find what you want to do, and turn that into a career. There’s opportunity everywhere still, but maybe less so in the “traditional” sense.
I agree with the overall sentiment, but my problem with your argument isn’t is that without some sort of Universal Basic Income (perhaps pegged to GDP?), we’re going to find ourselves in an even worse dichotomy between the haves and have nots. Our current capitalistic system demands close to full employment to keep the gears of the economy greased. What happens when entire industries are replaced by AI? For example, there are more truck drivers than just about any other profession. What happens when AI begins taking those jobs? It’s not just the truckers who will be affected: it’s gas stations, hotels, fast food places, etc.
Overall, I do agree with you Michael. We have a long way to go to keep people employed and retain the ability to provide. But I do think we are quite a long ways away from having total replacement of jobs. Maybe trucking will be replaced somewhat soon, but jobs will open for the maintenance and sustainment of those trucks. Developers for the software. Hotels may turn into trucking maintenance stops and repair shops. Gas stations into EV charging ports. Many of these will still require human intervention, at least for the next several decades. It is absolutely a problem worth worrying about, but as a society, we have always been much better at adapting and changing to the world, rather than force it into the way we think it should go.
We got a shit deal to be born and live in this transitional period. Next it’s gonna be dark years of us waiting until governments realise and accept that universal income is a right. I just hope it comes through while we are still not too old to enjoy life.
How do we … future generations to greed and ..? It is time for each and every one of us to say, and act, that our own prosperity is less important than the wellbeing of all others. We need to accept a little bit less so others can have more. I will not be greedy!
I live in LA. I see people both from the “industry” (Hollywood) and those relying on or supporting the industry having to reinvent themselves all the time. Especially after the financial hits taken during COVID and the strikes.
How did you go forward with your choice to be an actor when your parents said you’ll be poor? That would have stopped me in my tracks.
dear michael,
love this piece, as always!
great question here: 'How does one create a purposeful professional life when the definition of a “professional life” seems to change every six months or so?'
answer: i don't know, but please subscribe to my substack and my everything!
love
myq
I’d take a slightly more optimistic approach to the technological revolution we are in. Yes, lots of traditionally ‘good’ jobs are going away, but a lot of those people never really wanted to do anyways. It was just a way to make money, run a career in a job they didn’t care, to hopefully enjoy the last decade or so of their life. Now, there seems so much more opportunity to be able to actually find what you want to do, and turn that into a career. There’s opportunity everywhere still, but maybe less so in the “traditional” sense.
I agree with the overall sentiment, but my problem with your argument isn’t is that without some sort of Universal Basic Income (perhaps pegged to GDP?), we’re going to find ourselves in an even worse dichotomy between the haves and have nots. Our current capitalistic system demands close to full employment to keep the gears of the economy greased. What happens when entire industries are replaced by AI? For example, there are more truck drivers than just about any other profession. What happens when AI begins taking those jobs? It’s not just the truckers who will be affected: it’s gas stations, hotels, fast food places, etc.
Overall, I do agree with you Michael. We have a long way to go to keep people employed and retain the ability to provide. But I do think we are quite a long ways away from having total replacement of jobs. Maybe trucking will be replaced somewhat soon, but jobs will open for the maintenance and sustainment of those trucks. Developers for the software. Hotels may turn into trucking maintenance stops and repair shops. Gas stations into EV charging ports. Many of these will still require human intervention, at least for the next several decades. It is absolutely a problem worth worrying about, but as a society, we have always been much better at adapting and changing to the world, rather than force it into the way we think it should go.
We got a shit deal to be born and live in this transitional period. Next it’s gonna be dark years of us waiting until governments realise and accept that universal income is a right. I just hope it comes through while we are still not too old to enjoy life.
How do we … future generations to greed and ..? It is time for each and every one of us to say, and act, that our own prosperity is less important than the wellbeing of all others. We need to accept a little bit less so others can have more. I will not be greedy!
I live in LA. I see people both from the “industry” (Hollywood) and those relying on or supporting the industry having to reinvent themselves all the time. Especially after the financial hits taken during COVID and the strikes.
In that case, if we’re all pimps, it was a good day. I didn’t even have to use my AK.