Shanghai Yummy

Have you ever wondered why the pay scale in our society is set up the way it is? Why do CEOs of major corporations make millions, even when they are failing by all measures? Why do teachers find it so difficult to make ends meet, even though their students have gone on to make wonderful contributions to society? Why does a dedicated janitor, who arrives at work before his boss, who has never missed a day of work, whose work gives the people in his building a healthier environment, get looked down upon by this society and its pay scale?

What if...

we were paid by how well we did our jobs? And not what our jobs are?

success was measured by how well we did the jobs we were asked to do? And not measured by titles?

I believe each individual has a set of talents unique unto themselves, and the measure of success should be how well each individual applies their talents in their respective profession. It would give people incentive to do what they want to do instead of what someone else says they should do to be successful. Compensation is a large measure of the success of an individual in our society. Whether this is the way it should be or not is beyond the scope of this entry, but if we assume that it is, then compensation should be based upon how well one does their job, not on what their job is.

Imagine the world if a great teacher could be a milliionaire. The CEOs of failing companies would be broke. A mechanic that efficiently puts your car back on the road is paid as much as the CEO of their company, because both are doing a fine job irrespective of what their jobs are.

One of the concepts we need to change as a society is the idea of a corporate ladder, and the idea that climbing it is the only way to realize success. We need to find a better way, and we need more people out there saying, "What if?..."

PGP Signed Entry