In my first year of University, in the first semester, I was lectured economics by this German guy. Honestly, to this day, he’s been one of my best lecturer. He was a middle aged man, who had lame jokes, but because of our respect for him (and most of us just came from high school therefore sucking up seemed like an option), we laughed at his jokes.
In the first few weeks, he told us this economic theory that more people working results in specialisation, and each person does a task that they can be much better in, instead of everyone doing the same task. Again, as a first year student, I wasn’t really worried about the truthfulness of the statement, because a statement from a lecturer was proxy for hearing the audible voice of God.
Businesses have started doing this. Companies focus on what they are good at, or their “core competency” and allowing other companies to perform functions they are not good at.
In personal lives people have started doing the same. Instead of cleaning their own houses, people have started hiring people to clean their homes. People have hired interior decorators. People hire fashion designers. People hire people to take care of their children. And on. And on. And on.
This makes us all have a unique fit in the world. It makes us shine where we can, and helps us allow others to shine where they can. It shows us how interdependent we are on this month.
But to what extent are we willing to outsource parts of our lives? Do we outsource the search for truth and believe whatever we’re told? Do we outsource our values and morals, and conform to the values and morals of society? Do we outsource raising children, and stop being the role models and guiding figures they need?
How far have you outsourced your life?
Patrick Kayongo 