Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Have you become a commodity?

Have you become a commodity?

In a society with an economic environment that accepts “head hunters” (somewhat unpleasant connotations attach to this term), that accepts “down-sizing” or restructuring as normal in the pursuit of the all important “bottom-line”; a society which encourages its citizens to sell themselves to the highest bidder in the job market in pursuit of ever more desirable material possessions, diminishes its citizens to the point where many are left confused with no real notion of their self worth. In short they have become commodities.

The result is that many people today live and think only in terms of limited self interest. They believe that they are acting on behalf of their best interests when actually their main efforts are directed to money and what is termed success (however this is defined). In the process of seeking what they are told is best for them, they deceive themselves about the fact that their fundamental human potentialities remain unfulfilled and by accepting such a deception they lose sight of their core values, which remain unchangeable. This, in many instances, leads to lack of life harmony, to stress and anxiety – conditions very prevalent in today’s work place.

It must be remembered that in any situation, a person may be considered to have at least three identities or persona – firstly, the persona they have identified as theirs; secondly, the persona others identify them by; and finally, the person they really are (that core which is the reality behind the word “I”). The first two depend on the role being played at the time, and every-one is a role player; roles as a businessman, father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, employer, employee, customer and so on. The list is endless, but in each one a person acts, or performs in a way that is in accord with who they think they are, or that is expected of them. For instance a person would not treat their spouse or partner as they would a workshop employee (hopefully!). Neither would they behave towards the General Manager as they would to a debtor who is behind with an agreed payment schedule. The final identity, or a person’s true persona, is determined by their set of values; their natural “fall back” position when con-fronted by any situation.

Under the influence of the market, the concept of who “I think I am”, has shifted from meaning “I am what I possess” to meaning “I am as you desire me” – in other words a commodity. So divorced are many people from their core values as human beings, that as sellers of a commodity (what they believe the job market wants) they feel separated from what they want to sell. To be sure, they are interested in what they believe themselves to be; immensely interested in their success in the market, but they are the managers, the employers, the sellers – and the commodity. Their self interest turns out to be the interest in “him” as the subject who employs “himself”, who is also the commodity, for which a person strives to obtain the optimal price on the job or personality market. Such people are now divorced from themselves and their value as human beings.

Now it is difficult to draw a line between what a person calls “me” and what is called “mine”. People feel and act about certain things that they consider to be theirs (or what they believe makes them who they are) very much as they feel and act about themselves. Their fame, their children, the work they do, may be as dear to them as are their bodies, and arouse the same emotions and feelings and the same defences if attacked. In its widest possible sense, how-ever, a person’s real identity or core values (what makes them a human being), is more than the sum total of all they can call theirs, more than their body, and their skills and abilities, their clothes and their house, their partner or spouse and children, their ancestors and friends, their reputation and accomplishments, their land and motor cars and yacht, their investment portfolio and bank account. These things give them the same emotions of pride and success. If these grow and prosper, people feel triumphant, if they dwindle or are lost, people feel unhappy and diminished – not necessarily to the same degree for each thing, but in much the same way for all.

The increasing worship of success (again, however this is defined) has generally failed to satisfy peoples primal urge to be who they really are. There is an increasing number of people to whom everything they are doing seems to lack fulfillment. They are still under the spell of the slogans which preach faith in the secular paradise of success and glamour. But doubt, that necessary condition for all progress, has begun to work on them and has made them ready to ask what their real self-interest as human beings really is. They have become dissatisfied with being a commodity.

The real tragedy, such is the power of the “market”, is that what has been described above is now considered normal.

Anyone in this situation needs to come to terms with who they really are. There is a difference between a person’s REAL interests and those imposed on them by any given society. Some people may find it difficult to experience life in terms of their own emotions, thoughts and sense of proportion, rather than in terms of the experiences that they are supposed to have, as dictated by the expectations of the “market” and society. In other words they are required to fit in with what the market wants or what the “competition” is providing. They are squeezed into a “shape” that would not be of their own choosing, just to comply with market expectations.

Anything which directs a person into a channel not of their natural inclination; any constriction to personal growth and the development of their full potential as human beings will give rise to stress and anxiety and general lack of balance or harmony in their life.


Acknowledgement: “Man for Himself” by Eric Fromm, which inspired this article.





Have you become a commodity - To learn more about this author, visit Andrew Campbell-Watt's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Andrew Campbell-Watt
(Visit Andrew's Website) Andrew Campbell-Watt is a Life Coach. During the journey of his life he has picked up a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business. Along the way he has also gathered a life time of study and practical experience in moral philosophy,ethics and stress management. These he has applied in his forty odd years in business, for himself and as an employee. He has since found increasing need to use his special skills in helping people through the emotional turmoil of retirement and the many attendant issues. His wide experience in a variety of industries give him a unique platform to reach out and help anyone who has difficulty in finding peace of mind and some measure in their life, in what is an increasingly complex and anxious world.

Andrew Campbell-Watt is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
Ethics and Life - Written by Andrew Campbell-Watt. I have a B.Comm,a Post Graduate diploma in Business and I am a qualified Life Coach.With some 45 years of business and life experiences I have much to offer anyone who needs guidance or advice in Ethics, Life Coaching and/or Stress Management
Ethics and Life
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Andrew Campbell-Watt's

Complete
List Of
Work-Life
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Andrew Campbell-Watt's Complete List of Work-Life Articles For FREE!

More Andrew Campbell-Watt
What Gandhi said
Part 3 Relationships and service
Balancing possessions and life harmony
Worklife harmony are you on the treadmill
Measure yourself as a manager Go for gold
E V V M L
Part 1 After the ball is over
Be carefull Success may not be all that you expect
I am me living by my own authority
Hints on managing an ageing multicultural workorce
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Linda Richardson  
Leanne Hoagland-Smith  
Kim Castle  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Webinar Plan Icon Webinar Plan
Business Coaching Icon Business Coaching
Termination Suit Icon Termination Suit
Goal Setting Icon Goal Setting
Measure Customer Loyalty Icon Measure Customer Loyalty
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Marketing Blogs To Watch In 2008
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008
 
Top 50 Blogs For Startups To Watch In 2008
Top 50 Blogs For Startups
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Etienne Leopold Ndiaye THIES, Senegal,
Etienne Leopold Ndiaye
THIES, Senegal
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Lisa Shepherd, $335k to $1.1 Mil in 2 years
Lisa Shepherd
$335k to $1.1 Mil in 2 years
Razor Suleman, $143k to $5.4 Mil in 5 years
Razor Suleman
$143k to $5.4 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Jenna Jameson, Club Jenna
Jenna Jameson
Club Jenna
Estee Lauder, Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup
Jack Canfield
Chicken Soup
Tom Peters, In Search Of Excellence
Tom Peters
In Search Of Excellence
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Why is a company culture so important
By Ron Finklestein
     Are you Untouchable
By Ron Finklestein
     Why Businesses Succeed
By Ron Finklestein

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information