The threat to knowledge workers is not AI or automation. It’s their horrifying lack of productivity


As I dive deeper into the history of productivity, the more I see how we are unproductive at being productive. As a result, the GIF below feels more like a brutal truth than a humorous joke.

Most of us probably think we’re the person confidently demonstrating how to use the wheelbarrow.

I hate to break it to you, but that’s not us.

We’re the other guy. We’re hustling. We’re using the latest gadget (ie, a wheelbarrow). We can’t fathom being much more productive — especially when we’re already working our butts off.

Ultimately, there’s a major blindspot that sabotages us and stops us from properly using the metaphorical wheelbarrow. And, it’s not our fault. Until we see that blindspot, our potential is limited.

In The Brutal Truth About Life-Changing Opportunities We Overlook Every Day, I share example after example of how, throughout history, we overlooked fundamental technologies sitting right in front of us for centuries. And one of the main reasons was that we simply could not see them. This phenomenon counters the conventional wisdom that as soon as some important innovation becomes feasible, somebody develops it.