Efficiency is the death of creativity and passion

I've recently been speaking to a lot of people about AI, particularly at my latest book event. It seems near impossible to pass a single day without mention of it. AI is supposed to make everything better, to do stuff for us, so we don't have to. It's supposed to make us more efficient, which is why big businesses and organisations are so enamored by it.

So, why then are so many people seemingly more exhausted and busy than ever?

Because efficiency is the death of creativity and passion.

Efficiency sounds great, until you realise the time AI is saving you is consumed by yet another task to improve productivity. Productivity is the slogan of the cyberpunk dystopia we find ourselves in. Even when we are not being productive for a business, hustle culture preys on ours spare time by making us feel like we need to monetise everything. We are fed a narrative that we should be more efficient with our spare time so we can make more money.

Monetise your hobbies.

Get a second job.

The whole it's not your 9-5 but your 5-9 that makes you.

Use AI to save time so you can hustle more!

But, if you are always productive, always hustling, then where is the time to be creative?

My greatest moments of creativity, those flashes of inspiration of inspiration for a story or artwork, have come from quiet moments. And from creativity springs the font of passion.

Writing about human weakness in Darklings has made me think deeper about humanity and our flaws. Our drive for efficiency is fast becoming a weakness when it comes at the expense of passion and creativity. Hustle culture and trying to be too efficient about being an author killed my creativity and passion for a time.

Am I selling as much or getting as many likes on social media now compared to when I was "efficient"? No, Probably not. But, I have been more creative, had more passion, and ultimately been happier since embracing inefficiency. Because of this, the things I write are also better (in my opinion anyway).

Embrace inefficiency. Be creative. Find your passion.

And in the meantime, grab yourself a copy of Darklings.

Grab your copy of Darklings here