Cultivating Self-Reliance with Specialization
Changing fate must be done first individually. For this Adam Smith (1759) proposed the values that must be instilled by the lower classes if they want to get the glory and honor of society. Self-reliant characteristics such as “patience, diligence, resilience, and application of thought” are the main sources of success. And because those qualities were not found in those born of the upper classes, Smith made the statement, “even in the kingdom, the highest offices were usually held, and all administrative details were carried out, by those educated in the middle class or lower class.”
Thus, Smith points to the existence of class factors in determining culture. Middle and lower social classes are better at cultivating their culture than upper social classes because indeed they need to fight for their existence. Therefore, the attributes that are instilled are the traits of struggle, striving to be the most resilient in life. This is what is called the struggle for fittest in Darwinian terms.
Regarding this cultural factor, it may be among our valuable cultures to practice self-reliance. For example, we have to find what our parents usually do, so they can survive amid various cultural influences.
But the culture of modernity is also very important to consider in order to instill this self-sustaining spirit. In the future, the competition will be more intense. The fight is no longer a problem between neighbors, between friends, between the environments again, but has reached the global battle.
Globalization is indeed happening in our midst. Many people come and go between countries to make money, exploit natural resources, sell technology products, and they are getting richer. There are also those who go abroad to look for small money; become manual laborers or domestic helpers. And they remain in the circle of poverty.
For that, we need to know and practice modern ways of life, so that we are not left behind and crushed by other nations. What is most important, perhaps, is what we can “sell.” Therefore, we need to develop ourselves in terms of information, technology, and specialization.
1) Information: we must cultivate to always respect information. Without information, we cannot do anything.
2) Technology: as far as possible we must connect with technology. No technology stuttering, I see. Technology will always make it easier for us to be independent.
3) Specialization: today is the age of specialization. Without the specific ability of ourselves, we are zero, worthless. People use us because we have special abilities (specialists).
