People can only really start working hard when their basic needs – such as food, shelter, physical and mental safety – are guaranteed. This seems obvious, but in reality, not everyone has the conditions to achieve it.

When basic needs are not satisfied, people can often only develop a small part of their potential capacity – sometimes only a few dozen percent. As a result, work is done in a state of half-heartedness, worry, lack of concentration, and lack of dedication. This is not because they lack responsibility, but because their energy and spirit have been worn out by taking care of daily survival needs.

Even when they have achieved a minimum level of safety, most people have to sacrifice too much energy. As a result, when they enter the stage of being able to “focus on work”, they no longer have enough energy, will or belief to really give it their all.

This reflects a systemic flaw in society, and cannot be remedied by individual businesses. Society only needs to ensure workers a basic, fair and sustainable level of security – housing, health care, education, security, and a living wage. Only then will people truly have the foundation to work fully, creatively, and contribute to their full potential.

Looking at it from this perspective, it can be said that most of us have not actually started working – we are just trying to get by in a life where basic needs have never been fully met.