Busyness as a Proxy for Value
- A full calendar often serves as a defense against feeling existentially lonely.
- People seek validation through busyness, equating a packed schedule with importance and value.
- This busyness, even if unproductive, provides a sense of accomplishment and avoids confronting potential underachievement.
- Society tends to reward visible busyness more than quiet effectiveness, even if the latter would yield better outcomes.
- Quiet effectiveness can lead to valuable insights, but society would not necessarily recognize the effort.