Workism, the culture where jobs are not just a source of income but also identity and self-actualization, has created perverse incentives that value effort over productivity. This can lead to an arms race of workism, where people try to outdo each other at the expense of their personal lives. The culture punishes those who don't keep up, leading to a vicious cycle. While hard work can be meaningful, it becomes a problem when it's valued more than purposeful work.