We work hard because we make stuff people want. We can make more, better stuff by working hard. I do think 50-60 hour weeks are often counterproductive, but the

We work hard because we make stuff people want. We can make more, better stuff by working hard. I do think 50-60 hour weeks are often counterproductive, but the money we make ultimately comes from providing value to someone. It isn't turtles all the way down. If your business is operating mainly on loans instead of revenue, it's because the lenders believe that you will provide value to someone in the future, and that you'll be able to capture some of that value and give it to the lenders. The lenders can be wrong, but it's still about giving people things they want. There are some bad businesses, for sure, which are about tricking people into giving you money without giving them something in return. And a lot of business activity is about jostling for a good negotiation position (e.g. consolidation), so that you can capture more of the value you provide. But because people control their spending, you ultimately have to make something people want (or make them want what you have) if you want to make money. Overall, you almost make it sound like the global trade of calories/textiles/etc is a bad thing, but it is an extremely good thing! It is one of the best things!!!