# Ending at the Peak By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-06-05 An interesting trend is unfolding within critically acclaimed, popular television shows. Where in the past, these television shows would continue well beyond their prime, today, many are choosing to quit at their peak interest and popularity. Many of these shows could easily create two or three more seasons to rake in cash, but instead, the writers, producers, and actors have decided to walk away from it. The primary reason given is that the story is complete, and it would be inauthentic for the characters and the work of art to continue. Is such a decision to be admired or ridiculed? From an artistic and humanist perspective, the authenticity is admirable. From an economic and capitalist perspective, the decision feels like a universally bad idea. After all, show business is still business, so how do they get away with it? I'm sure behind-the-scenes salaries and costs are growing exponentially as characters become known, and the show's popularity means vendors charge more for their services. But this is not unique to show business. As organizations grow and people perform well, expenses tend to grow exponentially. We rarely, if ever, see a company completely hanging it up at its success peak. Typically they continue to change leaders as individuals cash out or get bought by another business. Essentially, the business continues in one form or another. The significant difference is how the writers, producers, and actors view themselves on these "elevated" television shows. They believe themselves to be artists with the purpose of telling a meaningful story. They are still influenced by economics to put food on the table, but at some point, they've decided enough is enough. The story and authenticity matter more after their baseline needs are met. What would work look like if everyone thought of themselves the same way? Would we quit our jobs after a significant project was completed? Probably not, but this says a lot more about the value of that project than our authenticity. How many projects do we work on that are meaningless to the world and ourselves? If businesses worked on things that mattered, we would quit when the story was complete. Currently, most of our work is pointless, and the means to pay the bills. We are left to find and make meaning outside of work. What if work was a story worth telling with a beginning, middle, and end? Would it be the downfall of economic life as we know it or the emergence of a better society? Not all television shows have the luxury of a story worth telling, but working on one would be fulfilling beyond the balance of your bank account. #### Related Items [[Economics]] [[Society]] [[Art]] [[Life]] [[Work]] [[Business]] [[Storytelling]]