How Surplus Is Created in a Zero-Sum Universe

This story was originally published on HackerNoon at: https://hackernoon.com/how-surplus-is-created-in-a-zero-sum-universe. Why most work competes down to zero, and how to tell if yours is a discovery or a copy. The accounting that explains why Lagos is dirty and Singapore is clean. Check more stories related to life-hacking at: https://hackernoon.com/c/life-hacking. You can also check exclusive content about #philosophy, #economics, #business, #startups, #systems, #evolution, #decision-making, #technology, and more. This story was written by: @praisejamesx. Learn more about this writer by checking @praisejamesx's about page, and for more stories, please visit hackernoon.com. Most of what you build is the Nth copy of something that already exists, and copies compete down to the cost of the copy. That's why your effort doesn't compound. The difference between work that survives you and work that evaporates is whether it's a discovery or a copy. A discovery buys you time. A copy is already being priced down to zero. This essay gives you the accounting that tells the two apart, shows you where the cost of your gains actually lands, and gives you three questions to run on anything you're about to build. Read it if you've ever wondered why the same effort builds a career one year and nothing the next