Summary of "A.J. Jacobs: My Outsourced Life" – The Moth Podcast
Episode Title: My Outsourced Life
Speaker: A.J. Jacobs
Release Date: October 20, 2008
Location: The Moth Main Stage
Transcript Duration: Approximately 15 minutes and 52 seconds
Introduction to A.J. Jacobs and His Experiments
A.J. Jacobs, an editor at large for Esquire Magazine and author of bestsellers like The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically, introduces himself by discussing his penchant for conducting personal experiments to understand and transform his life. He shares his experiences with two notable experiments: reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica and practicing radical honesty.
"For the last few years I've been performing these experiments on myself to see how they change me and then writing about them." [02:00]
The Radical Honesty Experiment
Jacobs delves into his month-long experiment with "radical honesty," a movement advocating for complete truthfulness without filters. He describes the challenges and personal turmoil it caused him, including strained relationships and heightened stress.
"I did not recommend it for anybody. This was the worst month of my life." [03:10]
The Revelation: Outsourcing Personal Tasks
Facing overwhelming deadlines and personal stress from juggling work and family responsibilities, Jacobs discovers the concept of outsourcing—common in large corporations like Verizon and Microsoft—and decides to apply it to his own life. He reaches out to an outsourcing company, hoping to delegate low-level tasks to alleviate his burdens.
"I was totally at my wit's end and I was like, what am I going to do? I got to get another job." [04:10]
Meeting Honey: The First Outsourcer
The company assigns Jacobs a remote executive assistant named Honey. Impressed by her professionalism and efficiency, Jacobs begins to rely heavily on her for various tasks, from researching for articles to managing his communications.
"Her motto is, right time for right action is now." [06:15]
Jacobs is both impressed and intimidated by Honey's competence, recognizing her potential to overshadow his own abilities in the long term.
"I knew Honey would be our boss in 20 years." [07:05]
Expanding the Outsourcing Strategy
Encouraged by the success with Honey, Jacobs hires a second outsourcer, Asha, to handle personal tasks such as planning his wife's birthday party. While most assignments are executed flawlessly, minor mishaps, like purchasing incorrect items, highlight the challenges of outsourcing personal nuances.
"Honey is my better half. She is like my superego." [14:30]
Outsourcing Personal Relationships
Emboldened by his outsourcing success, Jacobs takes a bold step by attempting to outsource his relationship with his wife. He instructs Asha to communicate apologies to his wife, Julie, aiming to mediate their arguments. Contrary to his intentions of fostering passive-aggressive communication, Asha delivers heartfelt apologies that strengthen their relationship.
"This actually made our marriage better and our relationship stronger." [12:45]
Societal Implications and Ethical Concerns
As Jacobs' story gains attention, he observes the broader societal impact of outsourcing. His article in Esquire catalyzes a surge in demand for outsourcing services, leading the company to expand rapidly. This growth raises ethical concerns about job losses and the commodification of personal tasks.
"Maybe American jobs are being lost. Maybe there are Americans who want to research Jessica Biel's favorite foods and pets." [14:00]
Jacobs grapples with the moral implications of his experiments affecting not just his life but also contributing to economic shifts. However, an uplifting anecdote from a reader in Arizona who successfully found employment through outsourcing restores his faith in the system's potential.
"I felt a wave of relief like that we're going to be okay. We have some ingenuity, we're going to be ok." [15:30]
Conclusion: Reflections on Outsourcing
Jacobs concludes by reflecting on the complexities of outsourcing his life. While it provided significant relief and efficiency, it also introduced unforeseen challenges and ethical dilemmas. His journey illustrates the fine balance between leveraging technology for personal gain and maintaining authentic human connections.
"This is one thing to affect my life and change my life with these experiments, but here it was having some sort of effect on the greater society." [15:00]
Key Takeaways
- Personal Transformation through Experimentation: Jacobs illustrates how personal experiments can lead to profound self-discovery and lifestyle changes.
- Outsourcing as a Double-Edged Sword: While outsourcing alleviates immediate burdens, it raises questions about dependency, job displacement, and the erosion of personal responsibilities.
- Ethical Implications: The expansion of outsourcing services poses significant ethical challenges, including the potential loss of American jobs and the impact on societal structures.
- Balancing Efficiency with Authenticity: Jacobs’ experience underscores the importance of finding a balance between utilizing outsourcing for efficiency and maintaining genuine human interactions.
Notable Quotes
- "I bring it on myself. So no one to blame but me." [03:30]
- "This is like phone sex without the sex part." [09:45]
- "Her motto is, right time for right action is now." [06:15]
- "This actually made our marriage better and our relationship stronger." [12:50]
- "There are millions of honeys. So. But she's doing a great job." [07:30]
Conclusion
A.J. Jacobs' "My Outsourced Life" offers a compelling exploration of the intersections between personal autonomy, technological advancement, and societal change. Through his engaging storytelling, Jacobs invites listeners to contemplate the benefits and potential pitfalls of outsourcing personal tasks, highlighting the nuanced impacts such practices can have on both individual lives and broader economic landscapes.