Rory Sutherland

And so there's a great quote from cybernetics, a guy called Stafford Beers, where the quote is, the purpose of the system is what it does, which is quite a lot of systems, quite a lot of bureaucracy has this ostensible purpose, which is entirely praiseworthy and worthwhile. And so we actually attach much less scrutiny to that kind of thing than we do to something that's actually selfish.

And so there's a great quote from cybernetics, a guy called Stafford Beers, where the quote is, the purpose of the system is what it does, which is quite a lot of systems, quite a lot of bureaucracy has this ostensible purpose, which is entirely praiseworthy and worthwhile. And so we actually attach much less scrutiny to that kind of thing than we do to something that's actually selfish.

I mean, you know, one thing about being a commercial company is people go, what's in it for them? OK, what do they get out of this? I'm suspicious. This is too good to be true. I'm not really comfortable with this. You know, we deploy, quite rightly, you know, high degrees of skepticism towards the private sector because we want to know what they're up to.

I mean, you know, one thing about being a commercial company is people go, what's in it for them? OK, what do they get out of this? I'm suspicious. This is too good to be true. I'm not really comfortable with this. You know, we deploy, quite rightly, you know, high degrees of skepticism towards the private sector because we want to know what they're up to.

I mean, you know, one thing about being a commercial company is people go, what's in it for them? OK, what do they get out of this? I'm suspicious. This is too good to be true. I'm not really comfortable with this. You know, we deploy, quite rightly, you know, high degrees of skepticism towards the private sector because we want to know what they're up to.

Now, to some extent, if you're working in, for example, something that's altruistic or charitable, we suspend that level of skepticism. We go, oh, so well-intentioned. Isn't it brilliant? Okay. Okay. Oh, they're working for so-and-so. Isn't that great?

Now, to some extent, if you're working in, for example, something that's altruistic or charitable, we suspend that level of skepticism. We go, oh, so well-intentioned. Isn't it brilliant? Okay. Okay. Oh, they're working for so-and-so. Isn't that great?

Now, to some extent, if you're working in, for example, something that's altruistic or charitable, we suspend that level of skepticism. We go, oh, so well-intentioned. Isn't it brilliant? Okay. Okay. Oh, they're working for so-and-so. Isn't that great?

Now, it's nonetheless perfectly possible that the ultimate consequences of that well-intentioned action – first of all, it's possible that the motivation isn't nearly as wholesome as we may like to think. But secondly, it's also possible that just because something is well-intentioned doesn't mean the consequences are necessarily positive or benign.

Now, it's nonetheless perfectly possible that the ultimate consequences of that well-intentioned action – first of all, it's possible that the motivation isn't nearly as wholesome as we may like to think. But secondly, it's also possible that just because something is well-intentioned doesn't mean the consequences are necessarily positive or benign.

Now, it's nonetheless perfectly possible that the ultimate consequences of that well-intentioned action – first of all, it's possible that the motivation isn't nearly as wholesome as we may like to think. But secondly, it's also possible that just because something is well-intentioned doesn't mean the consequences are necessarily positive or benign.

And so, I mean, there is undoubtedly a really interesting question of what should we stop doing? I mean, I'm very interested. One of the reasons I'm very interested in flexible work is it occurs to me that companies looked at in one way are actually very inefficient. I tried to get – I didn't actually get our finance department. I said, forget about the usual method of financial reporting, okay?

And so, I mean, there is undoubtedly a really interesting question of what should we stop doing? I mean, I'm very interested. One of the reasons I'm very interested in flexible work is it occurs to me that companies looked at in one way are actually very inefficient. I tried to get – I didn't actually get our finance department. I said, forget about the usual method of financial reporting, okay?

And so, I mean, there is undoubtedly a really interesting question of what should we stop doing? I mean, I'm very interested. One of the reasons I'm very interested in flexible work is it occurs to me that companies looked at in one way are actually very inefficient. I tried to get – I didn't actually get our finance department. I said, forget about the usual method of financial reporting, okay?

How much does a client have to pay us? In fee income, in order for my younger colleague, and by the way, the fact that they're younger is relevant because they're not kind of vested in the property market as someone my age is. In order for my younger colleague to go out and have a curry.

How much does a client have to pay us? In fee income, in order for my younger colleague, and by the way, the fact that they're younger is relevant because they're not kind of vested in the property market as someone my age is. In order for my younger colleague to go out and have a curry.

How much does a client have to pay us? In fee income, in order for my younger colleague, and by the way, the fact that they're younger is relevant because they're not kind of vested in the property market as someone my age is. In order for my younger colleague to go out and have a curry.

And what you look at is the client pays us, then there are various overheads and costs, and there's HR and finance, and there's office space, and there's all that other expense. Then finally, the money trickles down to the salary of the person actually doing the work once the kind of landlord has taken their cut and the shareholders have taken their cut and everything else.

And what you look at is the client pays us, then there are various overheads and costs, and there's HR and finance, and there's office space, and there's all that other expense. Then finally, the money trickles down to the salary of the person actually doing the work once the kind of landlord has taken their cut and the shareholders have taken their cut and everything else.

And what you look at is the client pays us, then there are various overheads and costs, and there's HR and finance, and there's office space, and there's all that other expense. Then finally, the money trickles down to the salary of the person actually doing the work once the kind of landlord has taken their cut and the shareholders have taken their cut and everything else.