Too Much Work
People overwork and overconsume to maintain their social status relative to peers, often becoming stressed and dissatisfied.
THE IDEA
Too Much Work
Marc’s body became progressively flabbier, and his bespoke suits needed periodic visits to the tailor, in spite of his occasional crash diets. After he got over the depression of the abandonment, he started dating Janet, his paralegal, and promptly married her. They had three children in quick succession, bought the Park Avenue apartment, and the country house.
Janet’s immediate acquaintance is composed of the other parents of the Manhattan private school attended by their children, and their neighbors at the co-operative apartment building where they live. From a materialistic standpoint, they come at the low end of such a set, perhaps even at the exact bottom. They would be the poorest of these circles, as their co-op is inhabited by extremely successful corporate executives, Wall Street traders, and high-flying entrepreneurs. Their children’s private school harbors the second set of children of corporate raiders, from their trophy wives—perhaps even the third set, if one takes into account the age discrepancy and the model-like features of the other mothers. By comparison, Marc’s wife, Janet, like him, presents a homely country-home-with-a-rose-garden type of appearance.
When to use it
When contemplating a major purchase to impress others, consider whether it is driven by genuine need or social comparison.
When deciding how many hours to work, reflect on whether you are working to meet your own goals or to outpace your peers.
When feeling dissatisfied with your social standing, use this concept to examine the underlying assumptions about what constitutes success.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Marc and Janet's Struggle
Marc and Janet are at the bottom of their wealthy social circle, constantly striving to keep up with their wealthier peers, leading to overwork and dissatisfaction.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How often do you compare your lifestyle to that of your peers or neighbors? What impact does this have on your happiness?
In what areas of your life do you feel pressured to 'keep up'? Is this pressure internal or external?
Can you identify a time when trying to match others' success led to negative outcomes in your own life?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Fooled by Randomness The Hidden Role of Chance in the Markets and in Life (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)