It's a continuous vector transformation: Initially, they're correlated and pointed in the same direction - do better work, get better pay. At some point, they

It's a continuous vector transformation: Initially, they're correlated and pointed in the same direction - do better work, get better pay. At some point, they become orthogonal - they're just collecting a paycheck, the content has to exist but its content doesn't matter. I do feel that there's a point beyond that at which they're inversely correlated: To navigate the power structures and economics at the top, you have to prioritize money and politics above art. It's the same reason politics are broken: Local township boards can be just people who want to help their neighbors, at the middle levels in state and city posts you have to be good at fundraising and advertising but it's not all-consuming, but to win big races you have to be ruthless, because if you aren't, someone more ruthless than you will win.