Working visibly

In the twisted new world, work's value was measured not by its impact or quality, but by how much attention it grabbed. Offices became more like stages, each worker an actor in a relentless performance. The genuine art of work was replaced by a show, a spectacle where only visibility mattered, not real achievement.

This transformation was eerie, turning office life into something unrecognizable. Workers, once focused on their tasks, now obsessed over how their work was perceived. The quiet satisfaction of a job well done was overshadowed by the loud need for recognition and applause.

But then, something unexpected happened. Amidst this world of performance and pretense, a young intern at a small company refused to play along. She worked quietly, diligently, without a care for the show around her. Her focus was on the true value of her work, not its visibility.

Her approach, so starkly different in this changed world, began to draw attention. People noticed the depth of her work, the real impact it had. And fearing that her approach might inspire others or, worse, set a new standard against which their own efforts would be measured, the decision was made to let her go.