Callum Laing Argues Results, Not Time, Drive Value in Business

In a recent LinkedIn post, Callum Laing challenges the conventional understanding of professional value, arguing that it is not time spent working but rather the results produced that truly matter in business. Laing asserts that the modern concept of employment has fostered a misconception about the worth of one’s time.

Laing elaborates on this by stating:

“Your time isn’t worth anything. Employment as we think of it today is a very new concept in the scheme of human endeavour and it’s basically a short cut. The problem with it is that it has taught us that our time is valuable.”

The Misconception of Time as Value

According to Callum Laing, the traditional employment model, where individuals are paid by the hour, day, or month, has led to a widespread belief that time itself holds inherent value. However, Laing contends that this perspective is flawed. He uses the analogy of purchasing a product from a shop to illustrate his point. When a consumer buys an item, their primary concern is how it solves their immediate need, not the amount of time it took to produce.

Laing extends this logic to the entire business ecosystem, from shopkeepers to logistics and manufacturing. He argues that business owners are ultimately compensated for outcomes and results, even though they often pay their staff based on time due to the complexities of implementing results-based compensation across various operational levels.

Shifting from ‘Employee’ to ‘Entrepreneurial’ Mindset

Callum Laing highlights a crucial mindset shift that he observes among members at Veblen, which he terms the transition from an ‘Employee’ to an ‘Entrepreneurial’ mindset. This shift, he clarifies, does not necessitate becoming a formal entrepreneur but rather adopting a results-oriented approach to one’s work.

He explains the implications of this mindset difference:

“Results thinking is high agency, it means you are taking responsibility for an outcome and can be rewarded accordingly. Time thinking is the opposite, it is low agency, you are dependent on someone else.”

Laing warns that a focus on time over results makes individuals vulnerable. As he points out, if a role can be outsourced or automated by artificial intelligence, the perceived value of the time spent in that role diminishes rapidly.

Opportunity Through Results Thinking

The core of Laing’s argument is that adopting a ‘results thinking’ perspective unlocks a world of opportunities. He contrasts this with ‘time thinking,’ which he suggests limits individuals to the path of traditional employment.

Callum Laing emphasizes the transformative power of this perspective shift:

“When you see the world through the lens of time, your only path is employment. When you see the world through the lens of results, you see opportunity everywhere.”

He concludes by encouraging engagement, prompting readers to consider their own thinking on the matter. Laing suggests that this change in perspective is accessible to everyone and can lead to a profound re-evaluation of one’s professional contribution and potential.