Creative Sanctuary
What is creative sanctuary? It’s very simple and very important in protecting your career. Ask yourself two questions: “Can my job be done overseas?” and “Can my job be done by a computer?” If the answer to either of these questions — or both — is “Yes,” you are in deep, deep trouble. This is an issue that can no longer be ignored. People left and right are losing their jobs to computerization and overseas labor forces. Many of my friends have been victims of this. The problem is not going away, people; in fact, it’s getting worse. All you have to do is sit in a coffee shop and listen for about five minutes, and you will hear the effects of what I’m talking about. This will affect more and more people, because big companies need to successfully compete in order to survive.
Do you remember Rivendale, the majestic and beautiful sanctuary in “The Lord of the Rings,” where Gandalf the White and the Hobbits found safety? I give you the Rivendale of our modern age — it’s called, “creativity.” This will be our sanctuary from the problem at hand.
Computers are not yet capable of creativity; however, I fear the rush to develop artificial intelligence may result in a major threat to our creative uniqueness. Even though people overseas are similarly very creative, we seem to keep these jobs at arm’s length. By being creative in your job, or finding one in which you can express your creativity, you are securing your role in the workplace. You must do your job so creatively it would be impossible to replace you with mass production. Need an example? Take a day and visit Disneyland or Disney World. I recommend going on a weekday, when it’s not as crowded. Sit on a bench and simply observe all the creativity occurring there. No one would dream of saying, “Let’s replace this staff with computers.”
Here is my solution: Invest in us. We want everything so cheap, big companies manufacture at the lowest possible cost. Invest in us by spending that extra bit of money on something made in America. Once large companies see we are willing to pay more to be patriotic, they will bring the work back to America, hoping they will also be seen as patriotic. Think of it as an investment on behalf of your friends and family who have lost their jobs due to computerization or their employers taking their businesses overseas. Please spend a little more money to support companies showing their patriotism. Remember, patriotic companies will not last long if we do not reward them. So, on that note, let us lead by example as the people of America and reward patriotism. We have the power to stop job loss from spreading.
I’ll see you all in Rivendale.
Michael Erkiletian