It is easy to think that people pay us for what we make, for producing optimized outputs in a frictionless Configuration.
But they pay us for who we are when we make said things and how we navigate (use/aestheticize) the friction that living in the real world introduces.
We can most feel this duality once skills plateau. There is more to learn, but learning becomes available (/easy). It is that tipping point where personal development is the invisible blocker. Knowing the place of our thinking (/making) will unlock value (unknown unknowns) and keep us engaged and creative — being ourselves in new ways.
This week, I invite you to consider a plateau around you.