Inputs and Outputs: The High Price of Close Connection

As someone who has spent their fair share of time in professions where inputs and outputs are highly connected, I have to say, the quote “If you’re looking at professions where your inputs and your outputs are highly connected, it’s going to be very hard to create wealth and make wealth for yourself in that process” (from the book “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant” by Eric Jorgenson) hits a little too close to home.

I mean, sure, I love the idea of creating wealth and making money, but let’s face it, when you’re a journalist, your inputs and outputs are about as connected as a pair of mismatched socks. You spend hours researching, interviewing, and writing a story, only to see it get buried on page 17 of the local newspaper, read by a grand total of three people (two of whom are your parents).

But hey, at least we journalists can take comfort in the fact that we’re not alone in our struggle to create wealth. There are plenty of other professions out there where inputs and outputs are so closely connected, it’s like trying to separate spaghetti from meatballs.

Take the world of personal training, for example. Sure, you may be able to help someone transform their body and improve their health, but at the end of the day, you’re still trading your time for money. And let’s be real, no matter how many squats you do, you can only charge so much per hour before your clients start to wonder if they’d be better off just investing in a gym membership and a bag of protein powder.

Then there’s the world of teaching. Now, don’t get me wrong, teachers are some of the most dedicated and hardworking people out there. But when you’re in a profession where your inputs and outputs are so closely tied together, it can be tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You spend hours planning lessons, grading papers, and trying to keep a roomful of hormonal teenagers from tearing each other apart, only to get paid a salary that barely covers your rent.

And let’s not forget about the world of art. As someone who has dabbled in painting, I can tell you firsthand that creating a work of art is about as connected to making money as a politician is to telling the truth. You pour your heart and soul into a painting, only to have it sit in your studio gathering dust because no one wants to pay more than $20 for something they could find at a garage sale.

But hey, at least we can take solace in the fact that we’re not in the world of fashion. Because if there’s one profession where inputs and outputs are about as connected as a cactus is to a snowstorm, it’s fashion. You spend months designing a collection, sourcing fabrics, and putting together a runway show, only to have the entire industry move on to the next big thing before you can even say “Marc Jacobs.”

So what’s the solution for those of us in professions where our inputs and outputs are too closely connected for our own good? Well, there’s always the option of going into finance, where the only thing that matters is how much money you can make for your clients, no matter how little you actually contribute to society. Or, you know, we could just accept that sometimes, the things we love to do aren’t always the things that will make us rich.

At the end of the day, maybe it’s not about creating wealth or making money. Maybe it’s about finding fulfillment in the work we do, no matter how closely connected our inputs and outputs may be. Or maybe it’s about finding a way to make a living that allows us to pursue our passions without sacrificing our financial security.

Either way, one thing’s for sure: we could all use a little more humor in our lives, especially when it comes to navigating the murky waters of career and finances. So, in the spirit of finding the funny in the frustrating, here are a few more professions where inputs and outputs are so closely connected, it’s a wonder anyone even attempts them:

• Professional athlete: Sure, you may be able to hit a home run or sink a three-pointer, but at the end of the day, you’re still just a pawn in the game of team owners and TV networks. And let’s not forget about the injuries, the pressure, and the fact that your career could be over in the blink of an eye.
• Chef: You may be able to create a culinary masterpiece that leaves your patrons drooling, but when you’re working in a restaurant, your inputs and outputs are about as connected as a chef’s hat is to a tuxedo. You’re at the mercy of the kitchen staff, the customers, and the whims of the economy.
• Musician: You may be able to write a hit song that gets stuck in everyone’s head, but when you’re in the music industry, your inputs and outputs are about as connected as a drum set is to a kazoo. You’re competing with thousands of other musicians for a handful of record deals, and even if you do make it big, you still have to deal with the fickle nature of fans and the ever-changing trends of the industry.
• Surgeon: You may be able to save someone’s life with a delicate surgical procedure, but when you’re a surgeon, your inputs and outputs are about as connected as a scalpel is to a stethoscope. You’re at the mercy of hospital administrators, insurance companies, and the legal system, not to mention the fact that one wrong move could mean the end of your career.

At the end of the day, it’s clear that the quote “If you’re looking at professions where your inputs and your outputs are highly connected, it’s going to be very hard to create wealth and make wealth for yourself in that process” is more than just a pithy observation. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the things we love to do don’t always come with a big paycheck, and that’s okay.

So whether you’re a journalist, a personal trainer, a teacher, an artist, a fashion designer, a chef, a musician, or a surgeon, remember that the work you do matters, regardless of how much money you make. And if all else fails, at least you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not in the world of finance.