It's disheartening to witness how, in today's world, people are more focused on perpetuating problems than actually solving them. The sense of urgency and initiative that once drove innovation has been replaced by endless discussions and theoretical brainstorming. Genuine action has become rare, replaced by a culture obsessed with funding as the solution to everything. Entrepreneurs today seem more preoccupied with securing capital than cultivating the drive to solve real problems and make decisions on the spot. This has led to an environment where people feel overly comfortable, and lack the motivation that once defined the entrepreneurial spirit. The actual work — the hard, sometimes messy, but essential effort — has become undesirable in today's business and economic landscape.
I'm encountering this reality firsthand in my search for new business opportunities. Instead of direct action, I'm pushed into slow-moving, bureaucratic processes — obliged to sign up for platforms, share personal data, and then wait for someone from "talent acquisition" (often lacking talent themselves) to determine whether I'm "talented" or not. What the F does that even mean? The entire process reflects a system designed more to delay action than to facilitate it. We've built a business culture that values process and protection over productivity and progress.
This tangled mess is a reflection of a much deeper problem: we've collectively dug ourselves into a hole in the name of "protection". Each day, as the hole gets deeper, we seem to get less and less capable of climbing out. For a time, I was optimistic — hopeful that things would change for the better — but since 2019, my hope has withered. The system we've created is so deeply entrenched in maintaining the status quo that I no longer believe we'll ever find a way out.
The irony is that, unknowingly or knowingly, we've built this entire system on the idea of sustaining problems rather than solving them. Businesses thrive on presenting the illusion that they're solution-oriented, when in reality, they're just maintaining the facade. Employees, too, are trapped in this cycle, thinking they're contributing to meaningful change when in fact nothing is really changing. This creates a never-ending loop of so-called "innovation", where no true innovation occurs. We've come to value participation over results, short-term fixes over long-term solutions. It's easier to celebrate minor wins than to confront the deeper social-psychological issues that require real work and commitment.
The truth is hard to accept, but it's simple: most people care only about their own gains. This is an instinctive fact. If you believe that the so called fights against climate change or social justice are driven by pure motives, think again. If there weren't financial or personal incentives behind these causes, very few would engage in them. And this is already happening. It's always about the funding, the money — not the cause itself. At least, only in this world.
So, are we oblivious to this? Willfully ignorant? Or simply too "smart" to say anything out loud? Perhaps we've grown too comfortable with the charade, and the cost of breaking out of it feels too great. Either way, it's clear: we've collectively chosen to manage problems rather than to solve them. And as the hole deepens, it becomes even harder to admit that we're trapped in a system that, by design, keeps us from moving forward. The question now is: how much longer can we sustain this before someone, or something, comes along and buries us within our comfortable hole?
— Wout
If you ever feel stuck in your life or career, know that clarity is always within reach. Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective to unlock the next step forward. Don't hesitate to connect — whether it's for advice, a conversation, or simply to gain insight. Take care, and remember: the real answers often lie beneath the surface.
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