Lazy people are generally more successful in a capitalist society

So about 3 years back I did some renovation work for my old man on one of his hotels. He had one of my brothers mates working there, laziest prick I have ever met, he used to rock up at around 11am, then would just spend most of the day chating with the cleaning ladies, or whatever.

Anyway, though the work he did for my old man he decided he wanted to get into painting, so my dad gave him a few few tools to get started... 3 years later and this dude's driving around in a brand new Mercedes benz, completely off the tools and renovating old office buildings, to turn them into student accommodation dorms... I'm actually working for him atm. Since, I used to be a plasterer back in the day and have just moved back to my home town of Melbourne to look for work... So its worked out just fine for me, but seriously, how does such a lazy & scared of hard labour individual become so successful?

My theory... Most truly hard working people are far to stressed to take on to much, there always worried about what else needs to be done and whether a good job has been done... But the dude in question could not give the slightest f..... He sleeps like a baby either way, only thing he's worried about is when he gets paid... Where as a truly hard worker with integrity would be far more stressed out about whether a quality job is being done and whether the customer is getting value for money.

So yeah, basically the theory that being a hard worker will make you rich is a complete delusional illusion... What will make you rich in a capitalist society, is not caring one way or the other, just so long as you get paid!

Thriving in a capitalism... being a hard worker has nothing to do with it!!!

a reply to: Subaeruginosa
You could not have put it better.

Capitalism somehow overrides guilt, denial is a powerful force.
Its only business and all is fair in the name of profit. The competition caused by capitalism makes businessmen ruthless in their own nature.

a reply to: chewi

The competition caused by capitalism makes businessmen ruthless in their own nature.

in order to stamp out the competition
i feel that is an important point to make as well

even when perfectly fair and balanced it seeks to unbalance itself and become a lopsided monstrosity

I agree with you OP, it's always the least hardworking or least suitable people who get ahead or get promoted.
I've no idea why but I've always noticed it in jobs.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Have you considered the fact that his public job is just a disguise for tax agency? So who knows what else he is doing in his private life to get $...

i am one of those.
i am late reading my emails, when i say "i will look at it now" that means maybe after a coffee break but realistically tomorrow.
My career is doing fine, hell they even asked me to be on a promotional commercial for the company i work for.
and i got a raise not too long ago, a small one, but hey better than nothing.
why are people like that better off? two reasons i can think of:
I don't go beyond the call of duty. i don't make promises to everyone, because the more work you take on at once, the more confusion you have, the less accurate you become.
Always better to make yourself reliable in just a few things, and specialize in those.
People end up always preferring singles tools to a swiss army knife.
And second reason, in almost all types of work it's about who you know and not what you know.
People that take on too much at once are too busy working, and can't network.
I am not saying any of this is fair, but that's how the system is right now.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

You're right, I have seen this time and again and especially in big institutes like our local government. Its almost like an old boys network except for the lazy. We had a major sort out within the local council and planning officers job's were cut. The one member of staff who worked like a slave got the push whilst the dodgiest, laziest git carried on - no problem - how I ask you could it have happened.

Years ago on a programme about an IBM site we saw the staff working and went back year later after they had shed staff and someone commented it was the workers who went there also , not the shirkers.

I suppose what you are looking at is those who can manipulate, however perhaps the tide is turning a bit because the standard of efficiency is going down the drain in the UK pretty much across the board. A friend whose a property developer was moaning about how much paper work she has to double check for guarantees, planning permissions, invoices etc because its all full of errors everywhere. Another mate's solicitor can't send out a letter without spelling and grammar errors or even manage to turn up on time for meetings. When instructed he gets around to it a week later - and that's just normal apparently these days. Also part-time working isn't a help in many ways for efficiency because no one is responsible any more.

However if you look at the low wages you also have the reasons. I do think now that certain aspects of capitalism when concentrated into too small a number of people at the top is the main problem. With such huge corporations and little competition, now they don't have the hunger small companies have or the need for efficiency and we the public and workers are the losers in all of this.

I do think though this 'malaise' we are experiencing goes deeper than just in business. It seems as though values like hard-work are no longer a good thing because they have become nothing more than a tool for the rich to exploit their workers whilst paying them minimum wage. Where there is little reward or promotion available standards are going to fall, but if you have a army of workers/and the unemployed you can keep this situation going.

a reply to: Op3nM1nd3d

Being a suspicious person in general, I have most certainly considered that... But he's one of my little bro's best friend's and my brother has assured me it is exactly how it seems.

He made some money from a painting business, then jumped onto accommodation for international students... Smart idea really, since its extremely hard for international students to be leased rental properties, so they're prepared to pay good money for accommodation.

Then the stars are aligned with him. Going with the flow often bring good things even if it seems just the opposite at given circumstance but if he succeded in his business, I`m quite certain it wasn`t without breaking a sweat. It only appears that way as it usually does in these cases. You should get to know him and see how he does it...

a reply to: fartlordsupreme
This maybe off subject and I apologise if so but it is a good point about the future.
I firmly believe that in the not too distant future that human nature is going to evolve to the extent that the 'dog eat dog ' mentality is replaced by a more sharing and caring will to do good deeds. Scientist will work for the good of mankind and not for profit inventions. Medical research will be conducted for the good of medicine and not the share holders. Billionairres will be shunned and hated whilst poverty still exists. Current rich and powerful people will have children with a will to do the right thing instead of enhance the family wealth.
We are very close to this and it is through discussions like this we will arrive at the tipping point.

originally posted by: Op3nM1nd3d
You should get to know him and see how he does it...

Well, if your going to suggest that, you might as well suggest I spend more time with my dad and find out how he went from being a simple process server (when I was growing up), to now owning multiple hotels, properties and joint owning other businesses.

When the truth is, some people are just in the right place at the right time... hard work and integrity have nothing to do with it.

Most people will just work there hands to the bones and end up with nothing in a capitalist society, well a select few will just take a quick gamble and end up with the 'cream'... That's the truth of the matter.

It's kind of funny.

I worked as a hotel technician for 10 years on a fancy hotel which has seen every celebrity you can think of .

The first 5 years i worked my ass off, to make the hotel 100% working, it was in bad shape.

The next 5 years i could afford to be lazy, cause i was always ahead, constantly patrolling the hallways and rooms for errors and like, and thereby had time to talk to the beautiful cleaning ladies and all other staff members.

I was very popular, and still is, did little work though

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Can`t argue with that but you forgot the part that you have to provoke your luck in order to put things in motion. Most of the time you will get nothing but sometimes you will get the cream. I`m sure you have your own ideas how to succeed so why not trying it out?

But in the end nothing just comes out of thin air. You have to put an effort into it. It`s just how it is...

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

I don't agree with you.

I worked extremely hard in order to gain my financial freedom and this was due to the benefits of a Capitalist society. Without that society I wouldn't have been motivated to start my businesses and employ people as well as pay business taxes into the system.

Now if we had Socialism I wouldn't bother to work if I didn't have to because I would have no motivation to do better than the minimum needed to get my Government benefits.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: Op3nM1nd3d

Being a suspicious person in general, I have most certainly considered that... But he's one of my little bro's best friend's and my brother has assured me it is exactly how it seems.

He made some money from a painting business, then jumped onto accommodation for international students... Smart idea really, since its extremely hard for international students to be leased rental properties, so they're prepared to pay good money for accommodation.

Why are you asking if you already know the answer?

Making money is about having ideas and pursuing them. It has nothing to do with earning through blood, sweat and tears. It never has been like that.

If you are earning $20 an hour this is not going to change. You can break your back and it will still not change.

You have to identify a way that money can be made and pursue that. This guy did that and reaped the benefits. He was being an entrepreneur.

Or, perhaps, his dad knows people down the Lodge and got him in on a lucrative deal. I have seen that happen many times before.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: Subaeruginosa
Without that society I wouldn't have been motivated to start my businesses and employ people as well as pay business taxes into the system.

What would you class your employee's as? Middle class, lower class or working poverty? Whats there hourly wage?

Now if we had Socialism I wouldn't bother to work if I didn't have to because I would have no motivation to do better than the minimum needed to get my Government benefits.

You do have socialism to a large extent... food stamps and welfare payments, its the only reason why your 50 inch plasma screen is reasonably safe.

Capitalism just dominates, is all...Just like most developed countries.

originally posted by: chewi
a reply to: fartlordsupreme
This maybe off subject and I apologise if so but it is a good point about the future.
I firmly believe that in the not too distant future that human nature is going to evolve to the extent that the 'dog eat dog ' mentality is replaced by a more sharing and caring will to do good deeds.

*Snort*

We're heading the other my my friend. We're so far down the creek we're heading towards rapids and we dont even have a paddle.

Maybe at a star trek convention, perhaps. but not in real life.

originally posted by: Shiloh7
You're right, I have seen this time and again and especially in big institutes like our local government.

Government employment is not capitalistic.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

My life's philosophy has been fun first, work second. Why should I kill myself making someone else tons of money? As long as I have a good enough income to afford the basic necessities and my vices, I'm happy.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Did you actually talk to the guy or are you making a huge assumption about his work ethic?
Regardless, you should be happy most people can't afford Mercedes brand cars...Sounds to me like your more envious than anything.